A newly established front, spearheaded by students lobbying for a tunnel between Malta and Gozo, will be meeting the Gozo Minister in the coming days in a bid to keep up momentum for the project.

A preliminary study commissioned by the Gozo Business Chamber and Transport Malta concluded the project was feasible and would cost about €300 million.

The final decision depends on the outcome of detailed geological studies.

Members of the Front favur il-mina yesterday outlined their proposals during a news conference at the cargo jetty in Sa Maison, Pietà. Labour MP Franco Mercieca and Nationalist MP Chris Said, both Gozitans, were present to lend their support to the front.

Gozitan university student and front coordinator Beppe Galea called for a shuttle service and the introduction of a ferry service from the Grand Harbour as short-term measures to improve accessibility. In the long-term, the front is lobbying for the tunnel, saying it would overcome social and economic imbalances between the two islands.

The project would serve to address the brain drain from Gozo

“The project would serve to address the brain drain from Gozo because, at present, students and workers have very limited opportunities unless they relocate to Malta,” Mr Galea said.

Asked whether the project should be subjected to a referendum, he argued that would be unnecessary since both parties had taken on board the permanent link proposal in their electoral manifestos.

Critics raised concerns that the tunnel could negatively impact Gozo’s relatively unspoilt environment, fearing that better accessibility could increase the risk of overdevelopment.

However, Dr Said said such an issue had nothing to do with the tunnel but with bad planning decisions. The overdevelopment at Xlendi Bay was a prime example, he said.

Dr Mercieca downplayed concerns that the project would spell the end of Gozo Channel Company Ltd, saying it would still have an important role to play, albeit not as large as today.