Residents of Kyrgyzstan’s capital city of Bishkek will have access to greener public transport and better services thanks to new buses financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The project is part of the Green Cities programme designed to address environmental challenges and invest in sustainable municipal infrastructure, the EBRD said.
Bishkek on January 26 received 124 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, which will help replace the obsolete diesel vehicles currently used in the city. The city will receive more EBRD-financed buses in 2024. The new buses will offer greater comfort for senior citizens, disabled passengers and families with children. Once operational, the CNG buses will significantly cut harmful emissions along their routes, reducing nitrous oxide by more than 71 per cent and carbon dioxide by almost 38 per cent.
The first project under Bishkek’s Green Cities Action Plan (GCAP), the initiative is being funded with an EBRD financing package of €33 million, consisting of a €25 million loan and an investment grant of up to €8 million. It is being bolstered by a €0.95 million grant from the Government of Japan.
The financing is also being used to renovate the city’s bus depot and procure necessary maintenance equipment. It will also help to introduce an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with GPS navigation, which will significantly contribute to the efficiency of the municipal bus company.
Photo: EBRD
