The competition for the selection of 171 bus drivers had to be canceled due to the lack of qualified participants, as revealed during the meeting of the Yerevan City Council’s executive body on December 18. Vazgen Harutyunyan, the head of the city council’s transport department, informed the council’s staff about this unfortunate situation. He explained that the winning bidder, who had the lowest price, failed to provide the required bank guarantee. Harutyunyan further stated that a new competition would be announced this week with the aim of holding the opening in January.

Municipal mayor, Tigran Avinyan, also expressed his disappointment and conveyed his hope for a more effective system that would prevent similar issues in the future. He emphasized the need for improvements to avoid such setbacks. When asked about the number of participants, the leader of the government revealed that there were only four candidates. Interestingly, one of them was qualified, while the others were foreign companies.

In another development, the head of the transport department, Vazgen Harutyunyan, shared that the canceled competition would be rescheduled. He assured that efforts were underway to ensure a fair selection process and to attract qualified candidates. It is disheartening to witness the cancellation of such an important competition, but it is essential to prioritize candidates who meet the required standards and guarantee the safety of passengers.

Mayor Tigran Avinyan’s disappointment echoes the sentiments of many. His hope for an improved system reflects the collective aspiration for a fair and efficient selection process. Reevaluating the procedures and addressing the shortcomings will be crucial in organizing a successful competition in the near future.

In response to the situation, the government is determined to establish an improved framework for future competitions. This includes rigorous scrutiny of participants to ensure that only qualified candidates are allowed to compete. Furthermore, greater transparency in the selection process will be a priority to maintain the public’s trust.