The more time goes by, the more Malta (and Gozo) becomes more and more gridlocked with traffic. There is not one time during the day that there is no rush. Traffic jams are everywhere and each and every main artery is filled with angry motorists who sit fuming as they wait at junctions or try to overtake horse sulkies.

Getting anywhere is a veritable nightmare and sometimes, you have to allow an hour for a journey that is only 10 kilometres in length. Successive governments have tried to tackle the problem by improving the road networks and improving public transport. In the case of the former, some headway has been made and continues to be made. But in the second instance – that of public transport – we never seem to make any progress.

And we always end up going back to the same argument – people will not stop using their cars unless there is a fast, reliable and cheap public transport system.

The only real and sensible way that could happen in Malta is to build an underground system. Let us forget the logistics of it for a second and just look at it from a conceptual angle. Malta and Gozo (if we are going for the tunnel option) could be linked on a north-south axis, going all the way from Gharb to Birzebbuga. Malta would then also have an east to west axis, linking Dingli to Valletta. Mosta – in the centre – could then serve as a hub to have other routes going out in different directions. These could then also be served by buses which would operate on a regional level from above ground termini. On paper, it’s a winner. Malta is small and people would use it, but of course, there are caveats.

The first one is obviously the price tag. The project would be gargantuan in nature and would require a massive investment, as well as the thousands of man hours it would take to bring it to fruition. On that level, the government could explore the possibility of EU funding. Local, as well as foreign contractors would surely jump at the chance of continuous business over, say, a ten year period that it would take to complete. The other problems that might be faced are issues related to the finding of historical remains, which must be protected. Just look at what happened when the new Marsa Road was being built and construction had to be halted for weeks because remains were found.

There is no doubt that such a system would alleviate the choking traffic that grips the island. However, another issue which would need to be analysed at length would be to see whether such a system would be profitable. However, with the government forking out money hand over fist to keep the bus service going, it might well still be an option. But, to put our feet back on the ground in this sultry August weather – it will probably never happen.