According to CIM-BSE, which is headquartered in Guarda, about 200km from Porto, “in the case of transport cards for resident students, aged below 23, and for residents over 65, the reduction will even reach 60%.”

António Ruas, the first executive secretary of CIM-BSE, cited in a press release, said that the measure “is to benefit a population of nearly 250,000 inhabitants of the Interior of the country,” who will “have cheaper access to public transport.”

According to him, the goals also include “the promotion of collective transport over private transport, the reduction in the number of cars in the city, reducing traffic and facilitating parking in urban centres.”

A source said that the measure was approved at the special meeting of the CIM-BSE on 18 April, under PART – Programme to Support Tariff Reduction in public passenger transport.

CIM-BSE includes territorial units of Serra da Estrela, Beira Interior Norte and Cova da Beira and is made of 15 municipalities.