Tbilisi Mayor: New Buses Might Be White and Green

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze says that society willbe able to choose the color of new buses which will be brought into the capital by the end of the year.

As Kaladze noted in late August, the new transport policy of the capital envisages increasing the number of new buses to 220 by the end of this year. He also vowed that by the end of 2019, Tbilisi will have around 550 new blue buses.

"I think that because the government’s green policy and ecology are one of the most important issues, public transport should be green. Maybe two colors, green and white. The involvement of the society inthis regard is very important,” he said.

The Mayor explained that on October 19 he leaves for Munich, where he will choose the new design of buses.

“Our city and the population deserve to chose the color of the buses we buy," Kaladze said from the MAN factory in Tbilisi.

At present there are 143 new blue buses in Tbilisi. The remainder are old yellow buses which need to be replaced due to the failure of the exhaust system. Using such buses is not allowed by Georgian legislation. 

Mamuka Mumladze, Head of Transport Department of Tbilisi City Hall stated at a press conference on October 18, that up to 200 minibuses and about 100 buses are not running due to a failure to undergo technical inspection.

He says at present there are 105 lines for buses and 190 minibus lines in the capital for 1800 minibuses and 540 buses, and noted the number of minibuses might be reduced when more new, MAN buses are brought in Tbilisi.

By Thea Morrison

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