October 20, 2021. The international tender of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport for the supply of 770 low and zero pollution buses, namely 350 electric, 300 compressed natural gas (CNG) and 120 hybrids, totals 384 million euros. The process, which was announced a few days ago, has secured public funding for the purchase of these vehicles from the Recovery Fund and the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF).
The 770 new units are expected to significantly improve local transportation, while reducing its negative impact on air quality and the environment in general. Separate offers will be presented divided into five different categories, both in terms of fuel and size. “This ensures a wide opening of the market and the satisfaction of a number of different technical requirements,” Ministry sources said. The 384 million euro tender will be followed by a second one for the supply of 530 additional buses, for a total of 1,300.
The whole process will not only drastically renew the public transport fleet, it will also drastically reduce its environmental footprint. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has the merit of ensuring the financing of the entire project with the Recovery Fund and the NSRF, carrying out the necessary consultations with the competent European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Eliza Ferreira, and provided the necessary solutions.
At the same time, public transport in the capital has been strengthened since April of this year through the leasing process, to which 168 of a total of 293 vehicles have been added so far (up to 10 years), as well as the alliance with KTEL, which includes a total of 200 units (of which 180 are in circulation and 20 are spare).
