Tunisian Transport Minister Rabii Mejdoub announced on Thursday that the percentage of people using public collective transport has dropped to 30%, compared to 70% in the 1970s.
During a parliamentary session discussing the 2024 budget of the Ministry of Transport, Mejdoub stated that the ministry aims to rectify and restore the natural status of public transport through its strategic vision for the transport sector by 2040.
This vision includes the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable public transportation.
He explained that as part of this vision, a recommendation has been issued to allocate 25% of new bus acquisitions by regional or national transport companies to electric and eco-friendly buses.
Mejdoub emphasized that the future of transportation in Tunisia relies on clean energy.
Despite the challenges faced by national and regional transport companies due to accumulated issues, which made it difficult to meet all citizens’ needs, Mejdoub stressed that the top priority is ensuring school and university transportation.
Nearly half of the fleet, approximately 48%, is dedicated to school and university transportation, and the ministry has utilized buses from national transport companies for intercity transportation of students.
As Tunisia seeks to address the declining use of public transport and promote greener alternatives, the Ministry of Transport’s strategic plan aims to revitalize the nation’s public transportation system.