Trans-Balkan Road in Vlora Without Bus Service for More Than Five Years, Affecting Over 5,000 Residents

More than 5,000 residents and around 1,000 businesses along the Trans-Balkan Road in Vlora have been without public bus service for more than five years. This area is among the inner parts of the city where buses still do not operate.

According to residents, the lack of this route has made daily life more difficult for pensioners, people with health problems and families without a vehicle. They say taxis are not affordable for everyone, while walking long distances is often not an option.

One resident said the area has had no bus service for more than five years and stressed that it is particularly necessary for people commuting to work. According to him, pensioners go out for walks, but public transport remains essential for residents to travel for their needs and daily commitments.

One woman said she had not seen a bus pass through this part of the city and that her son currently helps her, as otherwise she would have to walk and would become tired. She called for the introduction of a bus service and lower fares for pensioners, explaining that she receives 100,000 lek and cannot afford it. She added that her children had left because there were no jobs.

Other residents describe the Trans-Balkan Road as one of Vlora’s most densely populated areas, with many apartment buildings and families. According to them, the lack of bus service forces residents to take longer routes to reach their destinations.

One resident said the route should start from this area, as it is a large neighborhood where public transport is essential. He explained that to reach the Old Beach, he has to travel to Zazani and then take a longer route to get there.

A longtime resident of the area recalled that buses once operated there regularly. He said the authorities were not making it possible to introduce a public bus, even though many people living along this road need the service and cannot afford taxis.

According to available information, the company providing public transport in Vlora has justified not introducing a bus along the Trans-Balkan Road by citing an insufficient number of passengers. However, several of the city’s largest residential areas lie along the road, including “24 Maji,” “Kushtrimi” and “1 Maji,” and residents are demanding the urgent reinstatement of the route, which has been unavailable for more than five years.