Updated - adds ministry's reaction - The Nationalist Party has blamed Transport Minister Joe Mizzi for increasing traffic congestion, saying he needed to assume responsibility after his party had promised to give priority to this area.

In a statement, shadow minister Toni Bezzina said that 18 months after Labour took office and Mr Mizzi was appointed transport minister, the situation on the roads had deteriorated.

In some cases, what used to be a 15-minute drive was now taking an hour. Schoolchildren were spending more time on the buses and had to wake up earlier or arrive late at school.

Workers were also wasting more time in their cars and the country was bearing an economic cost and also seeing more pollution.

He recalled that the Labour Party before the general election had promised to 'give priority' to the traffic problem which was affecting the quality of life of the people.

"That Mr Mizzi has lost his roadmap is certainly not a perception. The minister cannot continue to speak as if he is in Opposition. If he is unable to improve the situation, he must assume his responsibilities" Mr Bezzina said. 

TRANSPORT MINISTRY REACTION

In a reaction, the Transport Ministry said the number of cars was increasing every year and the infrastructure could not adequately cope.

This was not a problem which had developed today, but the present government could not have been expected to solve, in 18 months, what the former government was unable to solve in 25 years.

This government had given priority to projects which the former government had only spoken about, such as the changes in December 13 Road, the Coast Road and the Kappara junction. It was also planning a major project to ease traffic congestion in the south. 

Ultimately, the best solution to ease traffic problems was to have an efficient bus service and the government was therefore working to reach agreement with a new operator, the ministry said.