BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 24. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) aims to support the development of greener public transport in Georgia’s capital city Tbilisi, Trend reports via the statement of EBRD.
According to the source, EBRD will allocate 50.6 million euros to the development of greener public transport in Georgia. Owing to the sum of money allocated by EBRD, the country will be able to finance the rehabilitation and upgrade of up to 12 metro stations in Tbilisi.
The overhaul of the metro provides for better lighting and ventilation, and greater energy efficiency of escalators, which will improve the daily commute of citizens while an overhaul of the drainage systems is set to make the network more climate resilient.
Tbilisi was one of the first cities to join the EBRD’s flagship Green Cities program, which supports members in addressing their environmental challenges through sustainable investments and policy measures, the statement said.
EBRD notes that Tbilisi is one of the first cities to develop a Green City Action Plan (GCAP). Furthermore, the Georgian government has already developed the bus fleet renewal and transport network restructuring in Tbilisi.
Meanwhile, EBRD has already invested 5 billion euros in 283 projects in Georgia with more than 80 percent of those in the private sector. The Bank's major areas of investment in the country are sustainable manufacturing of infrastructure and services in the financial sector and small businesses.