Local and regional transport service providers will accept expired official documents verifying eligibility for travel discounts, including for those without up-to-date validation, until the 15th day following the end of the state of emergency declared due to the coronavirus epidemic, the Ministry for Innovation and Technology announced.
According to the communication, the Ministry’s request extends to the acceptance of all expired certificates, cards and vouchers verifying eligibility for public service travel discounts. This includes the “Travel discount for pensioners” for those under the age of 65 and the “Travel discount” for employees, both of which will also remain available for travel discounts beyond their expiration date of March 31, subject to other terms and conditions.
As there is a ban on attendance at higher education institutions and public education teaching is being conducted outside the classroom in digital mode, students attending higher education will also be able to use public transport at a discounted rate with student cards validated for the first half of the 2019/2020 academic year. Meanwhile, those who have not yet received a student card can avail themselves of the discounts they are eligible for by presenting a printed copy of the certificates sent to them electronically, the communication reads.
The Ministry stressed that the spread of the virus can only be slowed down if those who can stay at home do so. Therefore, this measure does not serve to facilitate travel during the state of emergency, but instead seeks to enable the persons concerned to travel at a discounted rate after the state of emergency is lifted, until their documents are validated or new documents are received.
A call center set up for advice on the coronavirus can be reached on +36-80-277-455 and +36-80-277-456 or by email at koronavirus@bm.gov.hu