Istanbul introduces age limit for student discount on Istanbulkart
IBB's decision to personalize Istanbulkart is seen as "restriction of freedom of travel", (AA Photo)
With the student discount on Istanbulkart being a topic of discussion, a new age limit of 30 years has been introduced. Students aged 30 or older will receive only a 10% discount on the Full Istanbulkart, Monthly Full Blue Card and Full Transfer fees.
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Council has decided to reduce the discount rate for students who are 30 years old or older to 10%.
A member of the ruling AK Party’s Legal Commission stated that the proposal violates the constitutional principle of equality and the law, arguing that all students should benefit from the same rights, deeming the decision incorrect.
Main opposition CHP Group Spokesperson Gencay Ozcan noted that the number of individuals using the discounted student card for those over 30 years old in Istanbul had increased from 122,000 to 270,000 since 2019, which he described as contrary to the ordinary course of life.
Ozcan warned that this situation has caused financial losses for IBB and emphasized that without preventive measures, significant fare hikes may need to be considered in the future.
