Thirty new buses were added by Malta Public Transport (MPT) to the existing public transport fleet with the aim of improving the service and meet with the demand. The investment cost €8 million, journalists were told at a press conference on Wednesday.

Transport Minister Chris Bonett said the additional buses will serve to keep up with the growth in the number of people making use of the service.

Official statistics show that the number of people who made use of buses in the first three months of the year increased by 19% when compared to the same period last year. In all, some 17.2 million passengers used buses during this time.

The number of people who have a personalised Tallinja card, which enables them to travel for free, and who made use of the service at least once a month also increased by 30% - from 188,000 to 224,000. This means that more residents are using public transport, Bonett said.

The government is working hard to see that public transport, which is operated by a private company, improves. By the end of 2025, some 120 electric vehicles with zero emissions will be introduced to replace others who operate on diesel. This change will mean less carbon emissions, he said.

Colonel Mark Mallia, Transport Malta CEO, said the agency and MPT are working together to make public transport more reliable, efficient and environment-friendly.

MPT chairman Felipe Cosmen said that until the infrastructure to accommodate electric buses is completed, a decision was taken to increase the number of buses to improve efficiency.

Present was also MPT general manager Konrad Pule.