More low-floor buses soon

The seven new low-floor public buses already on the road will be joined by another 30 by the end of the year, Transport Minister Censu Galea said yesterday.

Owners of 70 buses have already agreed to buy a new locally manufactured low floor vehicle or to import one.

The owners are receiving a subsidy of Lm32,000 each from the government to help them change their buses.

Owners making use of the subsidy must hand over their old vehicle to the government.

The ministry will then decide what should be done with them, but several are expected to be restored and displayed in a future transport museum.

The new buses, costing about Lm45,000, are more spacious and comfortable than the old ones. They are also easier to board.