Seven companies have submitted bids to run the Barrakka lifts, which were plagued by faults over the past weeks.

One of the two lifts was out of service last week and repeaired yesterday while a ticketing machine has been inoperative for months.

The lifts, which connect the garden to Lascaris ditch, are very popular among tourists, especially cruise line passengers, but the breakdowns meant longer queues than usual.

Lift users said the €1.5 million EU-funded lifts, reintroduced in 2012 after having been stopped in the early 1970s, seemed to have been in “a state of neglect” for weeks.

Lift users say it seemed to have been in “a state of neglect” over the past weeks. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

“It is not acceptable that such an important connection to Valletta is left in a state of neglect. No one seems to bother,” said an irritated lawyer who makes daily use of the lift.

“What’s going on at Transport Malta? I personally called them about the lift last week but it was still stuck this morning,” a 65-year-old Briton who resides in Valletta said. 

Following a call for the privatisation of the running of the lift, Transport Malta received offers from seven companies and individuals.

A two-way ticket currently costs €1 but the call made it clear it was up to the new operator to set the price structure, which had then to be approved by Transport Malta.

It is estimated that the lift is used by about 1,600 people a day, generating over €500,000 a year.