Transport Malta will, as from next Friday, step up its regulatory role in public transport and will fine Arriva when it failed to comply with the schedule or the waiting time agreed upon.
Addressing a news conference this afternoon, TM CEO Stanley Portelli said that the penalties were for regular breaches and not one-offs.
TM is being assisted in its work with a control centre computer programme that tracks buses to ensure that they were working according to schedule and abiding by waiting times.
This centre is manned by 11 people including those who carry out checks outside.
Mr Portelli said that between July and August, TM assumed a support function and helped Arriva cope with the new system.
In September it took on a monitoring role and issued a few thousand euros worth of fines because of general contractual breaches that included the behaviour of bus drivers and safety issues on board.
As per the contractual agreement, TM will now be stepping up its regulatory role on Friday.