Government workers have started drilling pits at St James Ditch outside the Valletta bastions to explore the rock structure ahead of works on the new bus terminus.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Austin Gatt announced in February that the bus terminus is to be moved from City Gate to the nearby ditch, possibly as early as December.

The area around the Tritons Fountain will be pedestrianised in keeping with the Piano project for City Gate.

The new terminus will be much smaller than the present one because the transport reform will see fewer idle buses. The terminus will also have better facilities, with rest areas for drivers, passengers and transport officials. The kiosks will be relocated and will be of a higher standard than at present.

Dr Gatt said that it was estimated that there would be some 15 buses in the parking/embarkation bays at any one time. Idle buses would be parked around the corner in the ditch bordering Glormu Cassar Avenue.

Total cost is expected to be just over €3 million, which would be 66 percent less than the original proposal, made some years ago, for the terminus to be moved underground at City Gate, Dr Gatt said.