The announcement of new bus routes is on hold after the Government and Arriva disagreed over costs.

Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said his intention to publish the revamped routes this week was thwarted after the bus operator failed to give the go-ahead.

Two weeks ago Mr Mizzi had said on Dissett that the new routes would be announced the following week and introduced early next year.

“I have always made it clear that I first needed to hand over the plans to Arriva for their feedback in order to see how we can proceed,” he said.

“It appears that we have a problem. Actually, there are a number of problems.”

He explained that the point of contention was over the costs to be incurred by the increased mileage. The distance to be covered by buses will go up by one million kilometres.

More vehicles need to be brought over to Malta to cater for the new routes.

“Obviously, we’re not agreeing. Arriva said there will be changes, so I’m waiting for them to give me their proposals for changes which would retain the efficiency of the proposed routes. I await their reaction, after which I will review matters. Discussions had stopped but will resume in the coming days.”

The new routes are meant to ensure better punctuality, with more buses added to areas where they are needed and reduced where patronage is low.

Mr Mizzi had said the route changes would entail more Government cash for Arriva but he was non-committal as to the level of subsidy – known as public service obligation – the company would receive.

When the 10-year contract with Arriva was signed in November 2010 the bus company was to receive an average of €6.2 million per year in subsidies.

But eight months into the contract that came into force in July 2011, Arriva’s subsidy increased to an average of €8 million per year. This was a result of substantial route changes requested by Transport Malta after widespread complaints.