Transport Minister Moves to Fix Longstanding Bus System Inefficiencies

Minister of Transport Dr. Louis Zabaneh says the government is actively addressing long-standing inefficiencies in bus runs and routes as part of the ongoing transition to the National Bus Company.  Speaking to the media, Zabaneh described the issue of route management as “the heart of the problem,” noting that for years the system operated with inconsistencies in scheduling, road permits, and service classifications. He explained that efforts are now underway to streamline operations, including clearer distinctions between regular and express runs, while also tackling unresolved concerns such as the regulation of standees.  According to the Minister, standardizing these elements is critical to delivering a more predictable and efficient service for commuters across the country.  

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport: “You’ve had a situation that has evolved over more than twenty years now where even though the bus says express on it so they may leave half an hour a regular run but because the regular run is stopping at some point along the road they catch up with the regular run. And then once they pass the regular run they now become a regular run and they start to compete with the regular run so those things are some of the things we’re working on. In terms of conductors if you look at what we have been doing with the pilot project with our electric buses those buses do not use conductors. When they leave from a terminal let’s say it’s in San Ignacio or Benque or wherever they’re traveling from and they go express then there is no need at the point where people get into the bus that’s where they need the assistance with their luggage, the get that assistance and when they reach the terminal where they’re headed to then that’s where they get assistance to take off thier luggage. So those are some of the things that we’re working on that we have to improve on, rationalize and that’s why we have a six month transition period. And it’s during that period that we’re working with all our new members of the NBC, the employees, who we have faith the majority of them are hard working and will try to do their best and those that do not wish to improve their performance well the door is wide open for them to leave as well.”