Tbilisi to welcome energy efficient buses from September
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Georgia’s capital Tbilisi is overhauling and modernising its public bus fleet to reduce vehicle emissions and curbing rising pollution levels caused by old, deteriorating buses.
From September this year new blue buses will operate in Tbilisi thanks to an agreement signed between one of the leading international providers of commercial vehicles, the Man Truck and Bus AG Company.
The agreement stated in the next seven months a total of 143 new buses will be added to the Tbilisi auto park, while the first blue buses will appear in the streets of the city in September.
The new buses will run on compressed natural gas (CNG), meaning they are more energy efficient, produce reduced vehicle emissions and are cheaper to operate than diesel-equivalent buses.
As well as being more efficient and economical, the new buses are also ideal for bio fuels – CO2-neutral.
Tbilisi City Hall announced all new buses will be adapted for people with disabilities.
Georgia’s capital will enjoy new buses thanks to financial support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Georgia’s Finance Ministry penned a deal about the new buses with the EBRD in May this year.
Tbilisi City Hall and the Man Truck and Bus AG Company signed a cooperation agreement this morning. Photo by Georgia's Ministry of Finance.
The agreement noted the EBRD would grant €27 million to Georgia to introduce new busies this year. In addition, the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership promised to grant €7 million to Georgia to purchase CNG-operated buses.
In total Georgia received two grants totalling €34 million.
Discussions about overvaluing Tbilisi’s public bus fleet started in December 2015 when the EBRD and Tbilisi City Hall announced €30 million would be spend on purchasing 150 new buses for the capital city.
Upgrading Tbilisi’s public bus fleet was one of several projects in the pipeline to improve the sustainability of the country’s transport sector and reduce the effects of vehicle emissions.
As Tbilisi City Hall reported it had a four-year plan to renew the bus fleet in the capital city.
Between 150-200 new energy efficient buses will soon be introduced to the bus fleet in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi thanks to two grants totalling €34 million.
Dozens of gas-operated buses are being introduced in Georgia’s capital this summer in a bid modernise the city’s public bus fleet and reduce vehicle emissions.
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People who use public transport in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi will soon be able to use free Wi-Fi while on the go.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Tbilisi City Hall will invest €30 million to purchase 150 new buses for Tbilisi.
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New bus lanes have been introduced on several mains streets of Georgia’s capital today to alleviate traffic woes and promote road safety in Tbilisi.
Twenty-five public schools in Georgia’s capital will be renovated to become more energy efficient thanks to €20 million in financial support from two international financial institutions.