Fearless protesters block major roads; public transport suspended in Tirana

Public transport services in Tirana have been temporarily suspended following protests and the blocking of major roads, which have disrupted the normal operation of public transport routes in the capital.

The head of the National Urban Transport Association, Kostandin Foni, said that, in addition to service interruptions and the inability to cover scheduled mileage, public transport vehicles have also sustained damage during the protests.

According to preliminary estimates, damage to the bus fleet so far amounts to around 2 million lek.

The damage is still being documented and verified, so the final amount may change once a full assessment has been completed.

Mr Foni stressed that the temporary suspension of services was necessary because normal and safe bus operations could not be guaranteed, and to prevent further damage to vehicles and protect the safety of staff and passengers.

A return to normal road traffic will not necessarily mean an immediate resumption of services at full capacity, as damaged buses require time for repairs, technical inspections and a return to operation.

The suspension of public transport directly affects the mobility of residents who use the service every day to meet their daily needs, including travelling to work, educational institutions and other services.

The National Urban Transport Association said that the full restoration of services will depend on the situation stabilizing, safe traffic conditions being guaranteed and the necessary repairs to damaged vehicles being completed./Monitor