Vratsa and Stara Zagora implement ecological transport measures financed by OP Environment

The Minister of Environment and Water  Mr. Neno Dimov, the acting Mayor of Vratsa Municipality Mrs. Maria Popova and Trolleybus Transport Manager - Vratsa EOOD Mrs.Victoria Nacheva have signed an agreement for the modernization of urban transport in the municipality. 13 new electric buses and 9 new trolleybuses for public transport will be purchased with the financial means of OP Environment in Vratsa. Delivery and installation of 13 slow loading buses and one fast loading station are foreseen.

The use of the new vehicles will be optimized by implementing an integrated e-billing and passenger real-time information management system.

The project is funded by Operational Programme Environment 2014-2020 (OPE). The total amount of the investment is BGN 32 million. OPE provides BGN 26 million. The execution of the project will reduce emissions of fine particulate matter (PM10) with a source of transport - from 0.37 to 0.18 tons per year. The implementation of the activities will contribute to the improvement of the air quality for nearly 51,000 inhabitants of Vratsa municipality. The deadline for implementation of the activities is 30 months.

Minister Dimov also signed an agreement for improving the quality of the public transport in Stara Zagora along with the acting Mayor of the Municipality Eng. Yancho Kaloyanov and the Manager of Trolleybus and Bus Transport Mr. Dimitar Avdzhiev. 33 new electric buses and 18 dual charging stations will be purchased with the financial means of the project. Two transformer stations with the adjacent closed distribution for supplying the charging stations shall be built on the territory of the trolleybus depot.

The amount of PM10 will be reduced by 0.72 tons per year, which will improve the environmental performance of over 130,000 residents of Stara Zagora. The total investment is nearly BGN 53.8 million, with OPE providing BGN 44.9 million free of charge. The deadline for implementation of the activities is 40 months.