BELGRADE -- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has announced a loan of up to EUR 65mn to finance the acquisition of 400 new city buses in Belgrade.
EBRD provides loan for renewal of fleet of city buses
BELGRADE -- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has announced a loan of up to EUR 65mn to finance the acquisition of 400 new city buses in Belgrade.
Source: B92
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The bank explained that its loan would finance 200 low-floor articulated diesel buses, while the city and GSP will acquire the remaining buses in cooperation with the local manufacturers.
"The new buses will replace parts of the old diesel bus fleet of older than ten years and thus improve the reliability and quality of public transport services. As the new buses will be EURO-5 compliant they will also significantly reduce the burden on the environment with substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions," said the statement.
According to the EBRD, "CO2 emissions alone are expected to drop by an estimated 35,000 tons per year".
“The EBRD has a strong track record of supporting the transportation infrastructure and system in Belgrade,” said Jean-Marc Peterschmitt, the Bank’s Managing Director for Central and Southeastern Europe. “The City has made significant progress in recent years and the opening of the sector to private competitors and investment in new infrastructure has produced strong results. The challenge now is to build on this, and the EBRD stands ready to support these efforts.”
“This project is a continuation of an excellent cooperation between the EBRD and the City of Belgrade,” said Aleksandar Bijelić, Belgrade’s City Manager. “In the last few years the EBRD has become a valuable partner in the development and financing of priority investments in the City. We look forward to new joint investment and development challenges.”
Nebojša Ćeran, General Manager of GSP, said: “The new investment in the GSP’s rolling stock will significantly improve the quality of public transport service for the citizens of Belgrade.”
In recent years the EBRD has financed the purchase of new buses, the building of a new Sava bridge, the reconstruction of the Gazela Bridge (both co-financed with the EIB) and the renewal of tram cars and tracks in Old Belgrade as part of its involvement in the modernization of Belgrade’s transportation infrastructure.
They could repay this loan in a quarter of the time if they would find a more effective way of stopping people from avoiding paying for their journeys.
There are often people getting off the bus to avoid ticket checks - they look ahead and see the inspectors at the next stop and make the jump as soon as the bus opens the doors.
Another technique is stamp the ticket just as the inspectors get on. It isn't just kids either - even well dressed women who think themselves 'posh' use this technique - hoping that those around them just think that she forgot!!
Or of course, the best way of ensuring payment is to find a way of stopping people getting on in the first place unless they have a validated ticket.
Many of the tricksters follow the same journey each day. Perhaps a photographic record coupled with a ban on bus usage would deter repeat offenders.
...or a prison sentence.
(Bob, 1 February 2013 11:30)
It is great getting loans. The problems will arise when the time for payback come. Who will repay them? Our mayor does not think about the future and next generations who will bear the burden he will leave behind.
(Milli, 31 January 2013 15:08)
--
Exactly, this European bank provides loans to Serbia at unfavourable rates but our mayor doesn't care as his pockets will be lined. He needs to be removed ASAP.
(Zoran, 31 January 2013 17:45)
It is great getting loans. The problems will arise when the time for payback come. Who will repay them? Our mayor does not think about the future and next generations who will bear the burden he will leave behind.
(Milli, 31 January 2013 15:08)
You would not have believed how much money Belgrade received and were never used for the projected purpose. Thanks god it will not last for too long...
(John, 31 January 2013 12:15)
About bloody time. Have you have ever stood at the bus stop in Belgrade and one of those old buses pulls away in an cloud of black smoke. I always have been perplexed by this phenomenon because when I prepare my car for registration I always have to pass the MOT which includes emission testing. Those old buses don't have to go through the same process?? They should have been of the road a long time ago.
(T, 31 January 2013 10:21)
This is how the Djilas family have become very wealthy. Rather than keeping the funds/profits within the city or Gradsko Saobraćajno Preduzeće (GSP) budget, this family pockets the profits. For instance, the Bus Plus system is controlled by Djilas' wife. When asked why this isn't controlled by GSP, he answered "well, why didn't they think of it?"
This is the level of corruption we are dealing with in Serbia. These politicians are voted in to work for the interests of the people. When they start working for their own interests at the expense of the people then something needs to be done. Time to get Djilas in this anti-corruption drive.
(Zoran, 31 January 2013 10:09)
This is how the Djilas family have become very wealthy. Rather than keeping the funds/profits within the city or Gradsko Saobraćajno Preduzeće (GSP) budget, this family pockets the profits. For instance, the Bus Plus system is controlled by Djilas' wife. When asked why this isn't controlled by GSP, he answered "well, why didn't they think of it?"
This is the level of corruption we are dealing with in Serbia. These politicians are voted in to work for the interests of the people. When they start working for their own interests at the expense of the people then something needs to be done. Time to get Djilas in this anti-corruption drive.
(Zoran, 31 January 2013 10:09)
About bloody time. Have you have ever stood at the bus stop in Belgrade and one of those old buses pulls away in an cloud of black smoke. I always have been perplexed by this phenomenon because when I prepare my car for registration I always have to pass the MOT which includes emission testing. Those old buses don't have to go through the same process?? They should have been of the road a long time ago.
(T, 31 January 2013 10:21)
It is great getting loans. The problems will arise when the time for payback come. Who will repay them? Our mayor does not think about the future and next generations who will bear the burden he will leave behind.
(Milli, 31 January 2013 15:08)
You would not have believed how much money Belgrade received and were never used for the projected purpose. Thanks god it will not last for too long...
(John, 31 January 2013 12:15)
It is great getting loans. The problems will arise when the time for payback come. Who will repay them? Our mayor does not think about the future and next generations who will bear the burden he will leave behind.
(Milli, 31 January 2013 15:08)
--
Exactly, this European bank provides loans to Serbia at unfavourable rates but our mayor doesn't care as his pockets will be lined. He needs to be removed ASAP.
(Zoran, 31 January 2013 17:45)
They could repay this loan in a quarter of the time if they would find a more effective way of stopping people from avoiding paying for their journeys.
There are often people getting off the bus to avoid ticket checks - they look ahead and see the inspectors at the next stop and make the jump as soon as the bus opens the doors.
Another technique is stamp the ticket just as the inspectors get on. It isn't just kids either - even well dressed women who think themselves 'posh' use this technique - hoping that those around them just think that she forgot!!
Or of course, the best way of ensuring payment is to find a way of stopping people getting on in the first place unless they have a validated ticket.
Many of the tricksters follow the same journey each day. Perhaps a photographic record coupled with a ban on bus usage would deter repeat offenders.
...or a prison sentence.
(Bob, 1 February 2013 11:30)
This is how the Djilas family have become very wealthy. Rather than keeping the funds/profits within the city or Gradsko Saobraćajno Preduzeće (GSP) budget, this family pockets the profits. For instance, the Bus Plus system is controlled by Djilas' wife. When asked why this isn't controlled by GSP, he answered "well, why didn't they think of it?"
This is the level of corruption we are dealing with in Serbia. These politicians are voted in to work for the interests of the people. When they start working for their own interests at the expense of the people then something needs to be done. Time to get Djilas in this anti-corruption drive.
(Zoran, 31 January 2013 10:09)
It is great getting loans. The problems will arise when the time for payback come. Who will repay them? Our mayor does not think about the future and next generations who will bear the burden he will leave behind.
(Milli, 31 January 2013 15:08)
About bloody time. Have you have ever stood at the bus stop in Belgrade and one of those old buses pulls away in an cloud of black smoke. I always have been perplexed by this phenomenon because when I prepare my car for registration I always have to pass the MOT which includes emission testing. Those old buses don't have to go through the same process?? They should have been of the road a long time ago.
(T, 31 January 2013 10:21)
It is great getting loans. The problems will arise when the time for payback come. Who will repay them? Our mayor does not think about the future and next generations who will bear the burden he will leave behind.
(Milli, 31 January 2013 15:08)
--
Exactly, this European bank provides loans to Serbia at unfavourable rates but our mayor doesn't care as his pockets will be lined. He needs to be removed ASAP.
(Zoran, 31 January 2013 17:45)
You would not have believed how much money Belgrade received and were never used for the projected purpose. Thanks god it will not last for too long...
(John, 31 January 2013 12:15)
They could repay this loan in a quarter of the time if they would find a more effective way of stopping people from avoiding paying for their journeys.
There are often people getting off the bus to avoid ticket checks - they look ahead and see the inspectors at the next stop and make the jump as soon as the bus opens the doors.
Another technique is stamp the ticket just as the inspectors get on. It isn't just kids either - even well dressed women who think themselves 'posh' use this technique - hoping that those around them just think that she forgot!!
Or of course, the best way of ensuring payment is to find a way of stopping people getting on in the first place unless they have a validated ticket.
Many of the tricksters follow the same journey each day. Perhaps a photographic record coupled with a ban on bus usage would deter repeat offenders.
...or a prison sentence.
(Bob, 1 February 2013 11:30)