The Cospicua Local Council has launched the Bormla Intercity Transport project, which will provide free transport to elderly people and persons with disability within this locality. This service will be utilising electric vehicles.
The launch was presided over by Transport Minister Ian Borg, Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Silvio Parnis and Cospicua mayor Alison Zerafa Civelli.
The mayor spoke about the benefits of this project, especially for the ageing population in the town. The Cospicua Local Council submitted an application under the European Mobility Week, which was accepted.
The Council was given the sum of €60,000 in funds by the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects and the Council added the sum of €12,000 to buy two electric vehicles. For the next two months, the Council will be implementing this as a pilot project, as the service will be offered solely to elderly people and persons with disability within the locality, but following its success, there is the possibility of extending it for all residents of Cospicua and throughout Cottonera.
Zerafa Civelli said that the project comes with another positive trait; that of reducing the number of vehicles which pass through Cospicua centre, reducing both congestion and air pollution.
Minister Borg praised the Cospicua council for coming up with this innovative and social initiative, and said that such projects which help those most in need in our society should be cherished.
He spoke of the importance of local projects which reach out to our communities, and said that this project is a clear example. The Minister also commended the project as one which should encourage other councils to take the same important step if they feel there is the same need in their localities. Projects such as this also increase the popularity of electric vehicles.
Borg emphasised the importance of moving ever closer to alternative modes of transport which are less detrimental to the environment, and mentioned electric vehicles as one of the solutions. He referred to the Budget 2018 incentives where the Maltese Government will be exempting electric cars and hybrid vehicles which are plug-ins, from registration tax as well as road licence payment for five years.
The Minister said he understands how difficult it can be for people to convince themselves to switch to this mode of transport, but added that this measure is simply one among many another which will help citizens to take this step.
Borg said that this project will also be helping the country to move closer to the target of 5,000 electric vehicles by 2020. He concluded his speech by reiterating the importance of using other alternative modes such as walking, cycling and public transport, all of which help to protect our environment while reducing congestion and improving our quality of life.