Audit Office: 68% of Tbilisi Buses Fail to Undergo Technical Inspection
By Tea Mariamidze
Wednesday, March 21
The recent report of the State Audit Office (SAO) of Georgia reads that 86% of Tbilisi busses could not meet the standards of technical inspection.
According to SAO, there are 816 busses in the capital, out of which, 143 blue buses are new and do not have to undergo technical inspection. However, as for the rest 673 (yellow) buses, 456 ones failed to undergo the inspection.
According to the information, most of the buses are faulty and they cannot go under the inspection, mainly due to which is due to the failure of the exhausted system. Using such buses is not allowed by Georgian legislation.
SAO underscored that most of the buses are outdated, their repair is connected with major expenses, and they do not meet with the legislative norms in ecological terms.
“Usage of new and environmental friendly municipal buses reduce harmful substances in the air, which will directly and positively affect the health of the population and will also save budget, usually allocated for treatment of diseases caused by air contamination,” the report reads.
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze also commented on SAO report, saying his year the City Hall intends to purchase a hundred European buses, which will be eco-friendly.
"We were talking about this during the election period and this issue remains a main priority for us. We are planning to replace all yellow buses, which are really in bad condition,” the Mayor said.
At present there are 143 new busses in Tbilisi.
The blue buses are better for the environment than the current yellow buses and 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.
Blue Man busses are efficient and economical, as they 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.
Moreover, all new buses are adapted for people with disabilities.
