Estonian capital city of Tallinn on New Year's Day became the first European capital to waive public transport fee for its registered residents.

In the case of most adults, free ridership of buses, trams and trolleybuses requires that they be registered in the Population Register as Tallinn residents, Estonian Broadcasting Corporation (ERR) reported on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, all pupils and students age 19 and under who are listed in the Population Register as residing in Estonia enjoy free public transport.

In Tallinn, a city of 410,000, a total of 150,000 farecards had been purchased according to last count - as of late December, said the report.

City officials have described the reform as primarily motivated by environmental and social reasons. Among other criticisms, some have expressed concern about the 12-million-euro budget shortfall the plan is expected to create.

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