Public transportation fleet in two Iranian cities, Qom and Zanjan, are set to expand with the arrival of new buses made by domestic producers.
According to Qom Mayor Seyyed Morteza Saqqaian-Nejad, 52 new hybrid, Euro-4 buses have been purchased to breathe new life into the city’s public transportation fleet, Borna News Agency reported.
The mayor noted that the purchase was made possible by redeeming 2.15 trillion rials ($7.81 million) from the sale of government-allocated participatory bonds by Qom Municipality.
“This is the second batch of new buses to join the city's fleet. Last year, 110 buses were purchased from domestic automakers,” he said.
According to Saqqaian-Nejad, as long as state funds are available for new purchases, the bus fleet will be renewed and older vehicles will be gradually dispatched for repairs.
“The new vehicles are expected to help reduce car traffic while also improving access to public transportation,” he added.
Similar efforts are being made in Zanjan, the capital of its namesake province.
Gholamhossein Ahmadi, Zanjan Municipality’s deputy for financial affairs, said 30 two-door buses will be added to the city's public fleet soon.
“The municipality encashed bonds worth 600 billion rials [$2.18 million] through a local bank two weeks ago. As soon as a purchase contract is signed with the supplier, the city's public transportation system will have new vehicles,” Ahmadi added.
“The operating passenger fleet’s age in Zanjan averages nine years. We are optimistic that the new vehicles will help reduce air pollutants and traffic jams in the city,” he said.
The two cities have been struggling with air pollution, similar to all developed and developing cities in the world. However, authorities hope to turn things around in cities with a paltry budget and half-hearted measures.
Earlier Measures
Last month, Karaj, the provincial center of Alborz, and Isfahan, the center of the namesake province, got new Euro-4 urban and intercity buses.
Manouchehr Khosrozadeh, the head of Karaj Municipality’s Transportation Office, said 50 new buses have been purchased from Iran Khodro Company for 2 trillion rials ($7.2 million).
The official noted that a scheme called "Upgrading Bus Stations" will soon become operational in the city to provide better transport services to citizens.
“Renovation of bus stops, installation of maps displaying the bus route, renewal of bus stop signage and improvement of access to bus stops are envisaged in the plan,” he said.
Experts believe the sporadic and low addition of new vehicles to Karaj’s transport fleet will not improve the situation.
For a city of 1.6 million people, there are hardly 400 buses in the Karaj public transportation fleet, most of which are old and fit for the scrapyard.
An urban manager of Isfahan recently reported that 45 new buses have joined the city’s passenger fleet.
According to Masoud Bandeh-Khoda, 25 urban buses have been purchased from IKCO for 1 trillion rials ($3.6 million) and 20 intercity buses for 1.2 trillion rials ($4.3 million).
“The buses are equipped with special features, including diesel exhaust filters to minimize toxic emissions, special ramps for physically impaired citizens, baby carriages and enhanced air-conditioning system,” he added.
Tough Times
In view of the economic constraints facing Iran due to the reimposition of US sanctions, the renovation of transportation fleet is facing difficulties.
The price of new passenger vehicles has seen a threefold jump, just like any other commodity.
After US ex-president, Donald Trump, reneged on Iran’s nuclear accord and reimposed sanctions against Tehran last summer, the Iranian rial lost almost 70% of its value over the past year.
On Tuesday, the US dollar was traded at 275,000 rials in Tehran while it hardly fetched 42,000 rials in March 2018.
Following the sanctions, many foreign suppliers of vehicles and parts suspended collaboration with Iranian firms. The country cannot afford to import new buses in large numbers and local manufacturers do not have an adequate volume of parts to boost production.
These factors have derailed schemes for overhauling the transportation fleet. However, with the help of the government and automakers, urban planners are devising solutions to implement these schemes.
The commitment of officials and the timely allocation of funds will ensure these efforts yield the desired result.
