Taxpayers will have to foot the bill for improving the bus service as Transport Minister Joe Mizzi says his hands are tied by a 10-year contract.

In a frank interview, Mr Mizzi tells The Sunday Times of Malta: “Our hands are tied by the contract and we’ll have to pay for the extra kilometres that are needed to improve things,” Mr Mizzi says. “If we do not fork out more money we will not solve the public transport problem. Do we want to solve it or not?"

He notes that the suspension of bendy buses pending safety certification has not cost taxpayers a cent but insists the Government wants them phased out and this will also come at a cost.

“Arriva have some problems of their own with the contract and so we will be able to sit down and discuss things. It will be a give and take situation,” Mr Mizzi says.

Full interview in The Sunday Times and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com