31 minutes agoElectric buses on Pristina streets within eight weeks, municipality urges Government to stop blockade
Periskopi(an hour ago)
(an hour ago)The Pristina municipality is continuing with the plan to modernise urban public transportation, including the introduction of electrical buses and the restructuring of the entire Urban Traffic System, while the project has also prompted clashes with the central level for legal and financial issues.
The Director for Economic Development and Inovation in the Pristina municipality, the Braha War, has declared that modernising public transportation is a broad transformation process and not an isolated intervention.
This recent-day event has shown an interest, even an extremely great excitement of Pristina citizens. We have a duty to show everyone that this is not a separate process, but it's an entire program of transforming urban public transportation...”, Braha said, stressing that the process involves line reshaping, increased frequency and modernisation of the fleet.
According to him, already part of private operators' buses have been modernised and in circulation, while other vehicles are in the process.
26 buses of private operators... There are electrical buses, there are hybrid buses, there are diesel buses on the Euro 6...”, said Braha, adding that even Urban traffic will increase its fleet with new buses, including electricity.
He has announced that new electrical buses have not yet arrived, but are expected to be on the ground within weeks. I believe within eight weeks they could be on the ground”, he said.
However, the project has been accompanied by charges from the central level. Braha has declared that the Finance Ministry has blocked about 2m euros destined for bus purchase, naming the move an obstacle to the project.
“Na has halted 2m euros in the purchase of Urban Traffic buses... are blocked without any legal right”, Braha said, adding that the municipality will continue with the implementation of the project despite obstacles.
He has also stressed that public transport reforms are being realised with international expertise, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (BERZH), as well as European practices and directives.
On the other hand, incumbent Finance Minister Iron Murati has rejected the project, calling it incompatible with the law in force for Pristina-Pristina Partnership.
According to Murati, the municipality lacks the proper procedural basis for implementation of the project. Pristina's “communa has followed no procedure imposed by the Law in force... any agreement or contract signed on this issue, it is in full violation of the Private Partnership Law”, he has declared. /Periscopi/
