The introduction of the controlled vehicular access to Valletta, which should have been up-and-running today, has been postponed for a few weeks, sources told The Malta Independent.

The government has decided to postpone its introduction in order to make a few changes to the proposed scheme, which is set to make the capital city more pedestrian-friendly.

The controlled vehicular access to Valletta is a system by which access for entering Valletta will be charged. Cars will be photographed as they enter and leave the capital and the car owners will be charged accordingly. This system will eventually eliminate the need for the V-licence disk to enter the capital city.

According to the original proposals, the rates of 35 cents for between 31 and 60 minutes and 35 cents per hour thereafter to a maximum of Lm2.80, would apply Mondays to Fridays between 8am and 6pm and on Saturdays between 8am and 1pm. The first half hour weekdays will be free, as will be all other hours on Sundays and public holidays.

The sources could not say what changes the government wants to make to the proposed scheme before it is introduced, except confirm that the introduction has been postponed for “a couple of weeks”.