February 22, 2012. Lithuania's major cities will shortly have more environment-friendly buses and trolleybuses.

   Under the order of Transport Minister Eligijus Masiulis, Siauliai city council was given over LTL 5 million (EUR 1.5 million) from the European Union's cohesion funds. The city will be equipped with eight buses powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).

   By the end of April, Kaunas will buy 24 public transport natural gas buses. Six more green buses with hybrid engines, which will be powered by diesel fuel and electricity, will start operating in Panevezys city.

   In total, five major Lithuanian cities – Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Siauliai and Panevezys – will have their public transport system renewed with 80 environment-friendly transport means by 2013.

   In addition to that, the cities are planned to have their public transport infrastructure renewed and nearly 22 kilometres of bike paths built. The EU financial aid for the projects stands at LTL 75.4 million (EUR 22 million).

   It is expected that new transport means and bike paths will facilitate the problems of traffic congestion and pollution.