European Union supports the modernisation of the public transport system in Chișinău municipality

Public transport passengers in Chișinău will benefit from safer urban transport services with the support of the European Union, following the installation of the antibacterial air purifier equipment purchased within the EU project “MOVE IT like Lublin” – an initiative for sustainable development of public transport in the municipality of Chișinău

On 18 July 2022, the first batch of antibacterial air purifying equipment donation, purchased by the European Union in the framework of the project “MOVE IT like Lublin” and implemented by the Chișinău City Hall, took place. The endowment of public transport units with the first 30 units of innovative equipment comes as a response to public health challenges in the context of the pandemic and represents a health safety measure for public transportation, recommended by experts, based on the analysis of international best practices to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus and other contagious diseases. In order to ensure the safety and health of the capital’s inhabitants, by September 2022, the European Union will provide a total of around 680 antibacterial air purifiers, comprising a total amount of 81,000 EUR, and will cover more than 340 buses and trolleybuses. 

“The European Union stands by the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, and the inhabitants of the capital are also among those whose living standards and comfort we aim to improve. For this reason, the “MOVE IT like Lublin” project is a major initiative for the municipality of Chișinău, and the effective action of Team Europe ensures the implementation of best practices in the field of urban mobility and make the public transport to become safe, efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly. As the implementation of this project progresses, I am sure that the results achieved and expected will contribute significantly to a modern, European public transport here in Chișinău, in the heart of Moldova, including through the application of innovative solutions for public health protection.”, mentioned Jānis Mažeiks, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova. 

The antibacterial air purifiers are installed in areas where less air circulates in public transport units, and through the effective action of UVC rays they quickly disinfect the air and protect passengers during public transport use, including when there is a high flow of people. They have a compact size and resist to vibration, which makes it possible to use them in public transport lounges.

The beneficiaries of the “MOVE IT like Lublin” project are all travellers and guests of the capital city of Chisinau using municipal public transport. 

The event was attended by Jānis Mažeiks, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, Maciej Kowalczyk, representative of Embassy of the Republic of Poland to the Republic of Moldova, Ion Ceban, General Mayor of Chișinău, and other representatives of the municipality.

The project “MOVE IT like Lublin” – a sustainable development initiative for public transport in the municipality of Chișinău, financed by the European Union, is implemented within a partnership between the Chișinău City Hall and the City Hall of Lublin in Poland. 

The total budget of the project is 3,500,000 EUR, of which 3,325,000 EUR is a grant contribution provided by the European Union, and the amount of 175,000 EUR is allocated by the Chișinău municipality.