Residents of the Juan Pablo II human settlement, located in the El Arenal sector of Canto Grande, San Juan de Lurigancho, staged a sit-in to protest the increase in fares for informal minibuses. According to the neighbors, the fare has risen from S/1.00 to S/1.50 and even up to S/2.00 on routes to the San Martín station of Line 1 of the Lima Metro. One resident expressed her discontent, stating: “We have always paid S/1.00, but now they want to charge us S/1.50. We understood it when they used gasoline, but now that there is GNV and GLP, they don’t want to lower the price.” During the protest, demonstrators blocked San Martín Avenue and Los Granados Street, prompting the deployment of approximately 15 police officers to restore order.
Additionally, residents reported that the minibus drivers, mostly of Venezuelan nationality, threaten those who attempt to charge lower fares. They also pointed out that many vehicles do not meet legal requirements, putting passenger safety at risk. “There are minibuses that lack documents and SOAT, and there are minors driving,” a resident indicated. In light of this situation, the neighbors have requested the intervention of the Urban Transport Authority for Lima and Callao (ATU) to conduct inspections and impose sanctions on this informal transportation service.
