The European Union supports the modernization of the public transport system of Chisinau by equipping trolleybuses and buses with pandemic health protection equipment.

Public transport passengers in Chisinau will benefit from safer urban transport services with the support of the European Union, following the installation of bactericidal equipment purchased under the EU project "MOVE IT like Lublin" - initiative for sustainable development of public transport in Chisinau

Today, July 18, took place the donation event of the first lot of bactericidal recirculators, purchased by the  European Union through the project "MOVE IT like Lublin", implemented by the City Administration of Chisinau. The action of equipping public transport units with the first 30 units of innovative equipment, comes in response to public health challenges in the pandemic context and is one of the health safety measures in public transport, recommended by experts, based on the analysis of international best practices to combat the spread of COVID-19 virus and other contagious diseases. In order to ensure the safety and health of the capital's inhabitants, by September 2022, the European Union will offer a total of about 680 bactericidal recirculators, ammounting in value of about 81,000 euros, which will cover more than 340 buses and trolleybuses. 

„The European Union is standing alongside the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, and the inhabitants of the capital are also among those whose standards of living and comfort we aim to improve. For this reason, the "MOVE IT like Lublin" project is an initiative of major importance for Chisinau, and this action carried out in the spirit of Team Europe initiative ensures the implementation of best practices in the field of urban mobility concerning the public transport system, in a by making it more safer for human health, efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly. Once the implementation of this project progresses, I am sure that the recorded and expected results will significantly contribute to the development of a modern, European public transport, here in Chisinau, in the heart of Moldova, including through the application of innovative public health protection solutions” declared E.S. Jānis Mažeiks, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova. 

Bactericidal recirculators are installed in special spaces in public transport units where less air circulates, and through the effective action of UVC rays the air is quickly disinfected and protects passengers during the use of public transport, including when there is a large flow of people. They have compact dimensions and are resistant to vibrations, which makes it possible to use them inside public transport units.

„Cooperation with the Lublin City Administration of Poland, with the aim to transform public transport is an opportunity for Chisinau, and Poland's experience of modernizing and implementing the highest public health safety standards, thanks to this EU-funded project, will provide residents , as well as its guests - with a comfortable experience when they choose to travel by urban public transport", said Maciej Kowalczyk, the representative of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Chisinau.  

The beneficiaries of the "MOVE IT like Lublin" project are the inhabitants and guests of the capital who use municipal public transport. 

"This project funded by the European Union is an important one for the municipality and comes to support the process of modernizing public transport, so that it becomes safer and more sustainable. And the City Administration, lately invests considerably in this sector, by supplementing the number of transport units that 

correspond to the highests standards of quality and comfort. In recent years, we have managed to purchase 240 public transport units: 158 buses, 82 trolleybuses. I would like to mention that these bactericidal recirculators offered by the European Union will contribute to the improvement  of public transport services and passenger safety. We are glad that we have the opportunity to take over the best international practices and to equip our public transport according to European standards", said Ion Ceban, Mayor of Chisinau. 

The equipment handover ceremony was attended by E.S. Jānis Mažeiks, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, Maciej Kowalczyk, Vice-Consul of the Polish Embassy in the Republic of Moldova, Ion Ceban, Mayor General of Chisinau, and other representatives of the municipality.

Context:

The project "MOVE IT like Lublin" - The initiative for sustainable development of public transport in Chisinau, funded by the European Union, is implemented on the basis of a partnership between Chisinau City Administration and Lublin City Administration in Poland. The project will be implemented by 2025 and will provide support to transform the city's public transport services into a more inclusive, safer, more resilient and sustainable transport system. The project envisages the improvement of urban transport policies at municipal level by : increasing the institutional capacities of the Chisinau City Administration, in accordance with the practices of the European Union in the field of urban mobility; increasing the quality of public transport management in Chisinau through sustainable innovative solutions and technologies. Additionally, a modern Traffic Monitoring Center will be established within the project and a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan for Chisinau will be developed. The project will also digitize operations such as e-tickets and web applications for public transport, reflecting good practice in European Union cities, including Lublin. The new equipment offered by the European Union will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. More people using a safe and environmentally friendly public transport will contribute to fewer cars on the roads and, as a result, fewer emissions and pollution will be created. The beneficiaries of the project are all the inhabitants and guests of the capital, especially those who travel by bus and trolleybus.

The total budget of the project is 3,500,000 euros, of which 3,325,000 euros is the contribution of the European Union in the form of a grant, and 175,000 euros are allocated by the Chisinau City Administration.

For more information: Alina Procopciuc, responsible for communication, e-mail: communication@mill.md, tel. +37360592201. communication@mill.md, tel. +37360592201.