Catamarca province orders retirement of old public buses

The Secretariat of Transport of the Argentine province of Catamarca formally decommissioned 15 public‑service buses that had exceeded the legal maximum age, issuing an administrative resolution that gives operators 15 days to remove the vehicles. The retired units include six buses from the San Fernando cooperative, five from the company El Nene S.R.L., and four from La Rubí S.R.L.

Separately, Transport Secretary Lucas Stampfli announced a province‑wide regularisation process for all bus operators in the Valle Central. Companies must update documentation and demonstrate that their fleets meet minimum safety and quality standards, or risk having their operating permits denied. The provincial law caps vehicle age at ten years, with a possible three‑year extension if the bus passes mandatory technical inspections. Stampfli said a dossier is being prepared to retire an additional 12 buses that do not meet the requirements, and the government is considering longer‑term contracts to give operators better access to credit for fleet renewal.