50 new taxi licences to be issued

Transport Malta is to issue 50 more licences to taxis in Malta, although no need was seen for more taxis in Gozo, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Austin Gatt told parliament.

He said the bus service reform now nearing its peak was the highlight of an extensive reform of the transport sector. He recalled that the hearses sector had been liberalised and their number had increased. There was also liberalisation in the coaches sector, which had also seen significant investment.

He said that agreement for the liberalisation of the karozzini sector was also near, and a new law was being prepared to modernise the regulation of the black taxis and self-drive cars sector. The electric taxi service would be completely liberalised by January.

Dr Gatt said that in the roads sector, the focus early next year would be on works on Mtarfa Road, Garibaldi and Council of Europe Roads, the road between the cruise passenger terminal and Marsa, and the Xewkija-Victoria road.

Next would be the Mellieha Ta' Pinellu bypass, Marsa (phase two) and then sections of the Coast Road and Kappara Junction.

"We have never lost a single penny of EU funds for roads and do not intend to do so," Dr Gatt stressed.

He said that next year would also see the opening of the Qui-Si-Sana tunnel and the new access road from Marsascala to Ta' Barkat sewage treatment plant. The road from Attard to the new US Embassy would also be improved.

The ministry would also continue with its project for the paving of the heart of Valletta. It would build a 200-slot car park on the Floriana ground grandstand and also take up the Zurrieq Flood Relief Project in the second phase of the Valletta Road works.

As announced, the Valletta bus terminus would be rebuilt, along with outlying termini and interchanges for the new bus service network.

The planned works on residential road according to the list published in 2008 would be continued and hopefully concluded.

A new quay would be built at Barriera Wharf in Grand Harbour and the area of the Customs House would become a new terminal.

In his speech Dr Gatt thanked opposition transport spokesman Joe Mizzi for his assistance in the identification of wrongdoing in the licensing section of Transport Malta.