Commuters and drivers should not expect miracles on Monday when traffic is expected to increase exponentially due to the start of the scholastic year, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said today.

Addressing a press conference in connection with his ministry's preparations to mitigate the increase in traffic, Mr Mizzi said the traffic phenomenon has been increasing in the past years so no one should expect an overnight solution.

He said that following meetings by a traffic management committee, it was decided that 50 officials, from police officers to wardens, would be placed in strategic roads across the country to better control the traffic flow.

Asked whether this was the only solution the government managed to come up with, Mr Mizzi said he did not create the problem and urged people to use alternative modes of transport including public transport and maritime connections.

He said the government was working on a long-term plan which included the upgrading of various roads including the one in Kappara.

According to Transport Malta CEO James Piscopo, the increase in traffic was attributed to the fact that more people were working and using the roads more frequently.