Leader of the Social Democrats faction in Bishkek City Council, Kadyrbek Atambayev, raised concerns about the necessity of a cable car project that will consume a quarter of the city's budget.
Atambayev criticized the decision to allocate $60 million for the cable car, emphasizing that trolleybuses could be a more cost-efficient solution. He highlighted that one trolleybus line can serve up to 8,000 passengers per hour, almost double the capacity of the planned cable car. Atambayev pointed out the stagnation in Bishkek's trolleybus system due to vehicle shortages and lack of new acquisitions since 2018.
He also mentioned rumors about replacing trolleybuses with electric buses, but stressed that modern trolleybuses are more economical and practical than electric buses. Atambayev cited examples from other cities where trolleybuses are being modernized and expanded, emphasizing their environmental and practical benefits. He advocated for preserving trolleybuses in Bishkek as a distinctive and sustainable mode of transportation.
