The Caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hamiyeh, launched the operation plan for 96 public transport buses during a press conference on Wednesday. The plan includes specific routes for Beirut initially and will extend to the rest of the country’s regions by September.
After inspecting several vehicles and reviewing their specifications and operation plans, Hamiyeh said the Lebanese state possesses 96 buses. He emphasized that, through the Railway and Public Transport Authority, efforts are being made to secure drivers for these buses and ensure their operation and maintenance. However, he lamented that the maximum salary for the 27 drivers who remain in the cadre is limited to a mere and insignificant sum of 2.5 million Lebanese pounds.
He highlighted that this initiative represents “the first concrete and realistic model of partnership between the public and private sectors, where the Lebanese state acts as the supervisor and organizer, while the private sector operates the buses,” noting that “the buses belong to the state and are operated by the private sector.”
The vehicles are equipped with advanced safety and communication technologies, including cameras directed at both the driver and passengers, a GPS system for location tracking, and a centralized control center to monitor the entire network. Additionally, an application allows users to know the bus departure and arrival times, and payments are made electronically via a prepaid magnetic card.
