Public transport in Asunción and the metropolitan area enters a new phase of oversight starting this Tuesday, with fines taking effect for bus companies that do not report their GPS location every ten seconds. The measure, regulated by the Vice Ministry of Transport (VMT), is part of the Integral Control and Monitoring System (SICM), which aims to curb so-called 'reguladas' — unauthorized reductions in the operating fleet.
Street data indicate a slight increase in the number of buses in circulation after the system's implementation. In January, the daily average was 1,350 buses; in February and March, it dropped to around 1,300 units, attributed to the rise in diesel prices and the delay in calculating the technical fare relative to subsidies. During this period, companies operated under a covert force measure, claiming lack of liquidity for inputs. In April, with the resolution of the fuel conflict and the regulation of electronic control, the fleet rose to an average of 1,410 buses, out of a total of approximately 1,500 authorized in the system.
The VMT, through Resolutions 21/2026 and 26/2026, established a system for categorizing companies by reliability and an 'Operative Adaptation Stage' that ended on May 18, 2026. Now, the authority can apply staggered fines: non-compliance with the required average operating fleet is classified as a very serious infraction, with a penalty of 173 minimum wages. In case of recurrence, there is an additional 30% on the amount, which can reach 25 million guaranis.
The Vice Minister of Transport, Emiliano Fernández, stated that the public transport reform seeks to settle a 'historic debt' with citizens. The plan includes the bidding of five to six strategic corridors in the metropolitan area, with the administrative process starting in June. The first corridor is expected to receive 400 new units, with operations forecast to begin in the first months of 2027. The government's goal is to inject 1,000 new buses by 2028 and 1,800 by 2030, 40% of which will be electric, with no planned increase in fare prices.
Public transport users continue to face long waits and low temperatures at stops, especially in the early morning hours, while the system still shows no significant improvements in frequency.