The barrier in front of the bus station in Nalchik has been moved following passenger complaints.
The checkpoint with a barrier at the Severny bus station in Nalchik has been moved closer to the station building following passenger complaints. The Kabardino-Balkarian Prosecutor's Office discovered a lack of disabled parking spaces at the bus station and instructed management to address this violation.
As reported by "Kavkazsky Uzel," on January 13, passengers at the Severny bus station in Nalchik, located near the village of Shalushka, complained that entry had become a toll: a barrier had been installed at the station, entry costs 50 rubles. With the installation of the barrier, drivers were no longer able to drop off or pick up passengers at the station. Some claimed that receipts were not issued after payment. Later, the prosecutor's office reported that it had begun an investigation into complaints regarding the installation of a barrier in front of the bus station.
In response to the complaints, the Kabardino-Balkarian Ministry of Transport stated that it could not influence the situation, as the station's territory is private. The general director of the Severny bus station, Kyazim Temirzhanov, promised that the checkpoint with a barrier will be moved "to a paid zone further inside the territory," and that a free parking lot with a drop-off area will be organized for drivers.
The Kabardino-Balkaria Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation following reports of violations of passenger rights at the Severny bus station in the village of Shalushka, the agency's Telegram channel reported today.
The investigation established that the multifunctional complex "Bus Station-Nalchik-Severny" is owned by Severny Bus Station LLC. In accordance with the order of the organization's director, entry to the bus station is permitted through a barrier and checkpoint, subject to a one-time fee. "No violations of legislation on the use of cash register equipment were identified," the prosecutor's office noted.
At the same time, the director's order The bus station did not exempt intercity bus drivers (owners) with passenger transportation service contracts from fees. In this regard, the Chegem District Prosecutor's Office appealed the company's director's order.
Furthermore, the prosecutor's office submitted a representation to the organization's director regarding the lack of disabled parking spaces in the bus station parking lots. During the inspection, the bus station administration moved the checkpoint with a barrier closer to the terminal building, improving access for passengers and those seeing them off. A free parking lot with a safe drop-off and pick-up zone has been established for drivers, the agency reported.
The bus station's general director previously explained that the barrier was installed after complaints from nearby residents about young people "driving around the area at night with screeching tires, exhaust noise, and loud music." He added that after the barrier was installed, "the problem went away," and by moving the barrier further in, the administration hopes to "remove all inconveniences for visitors."
In 2023-2024, two bus stations in Nalchik were relocated to new locations. The new bus station, "Severny," was built near the village of Shalushka; intercity buses depart from there for Pyatigorsk and Moscow. The second, "Yuzhny," is located near the Dubki market; buses depart from there for Vladikavkaz, Grozny, and Makhachkala, as well as Terek and Maysky. Travel from Nalchik to parts of Kabardino-Balkaria will take longer after the new bus stations open, passengers reported in the spring of 2024.