During a meeting with representatives of taxi companies in Tirana, in the run-up to the work for development of the 5-year Strategic Plan for public transport, Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj said that this transformation has also served as a postcard for everyone that has visited Tirana, especially during the year of the European Youth Capital.

He emphasized the fact that more than 60% of the taxi fleet in Tirana today are electric cars, which pollute less and cost less for citizens.

“I believe that whoever comes as a tourist, or has visited Tirana, especially during the year Tirana was designated the European Capital of Youth, or now of Sport, the first thing that catches the eye are the taxis. Today, Tirana is officially the city with the highest number of electric taxis in our region, with over 60% of the fleet. I’m glad about that, because they find a clean taxi, that doesn’t make noise, that doesn’t pollute, well-behaving people who know how to communicate in a foreign language, and who give some directions about the city. We have received very good feedback from citizens who use it, from tourists and of course the cost is more affordable. The first card of getting acquainted with a city is the taxi driver, starting from the airport, the bus station, or the hotel where you pick them up and move around Tirana, and for that you have a very big praise. I am really very grateful to you”, said Veliaj.
The mayor said that this is attributed to liberalization of the market.

“All this took a bold measure as liberalization, otherwise there would be no market. For me, it was easier to liberalize this market for you actors – most of them are taxi operation actors in the last 8 years, so you have been licensed by this administration – and the incentive to expedite licensing, especially for companies that use hybrid and electric vehicles has really transformed Tirana,” he underlined.

Veliaj invited citizens to use this service more. “The invitation to all citizens is to help this industry. If you do calculations, you save more by taking a taxi than by buying a new car, which, in addition to the cost, incurs costs for parking, diesel fuel and filters, insurance, all other depreciation, or fines for wrong parking, meanwhile by taking taxi, you pay for the service and saves yourself the headaches,” he said.
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