Dashnor Mema, head of the urban transport association, told ATA that the decision to suspend service was made after protesters smashed the windows of the buses.

The damage has led to a temporary interruption of service on these lines, affecting citizens who rely on public transport for their daily travel.

Preliminary estimates place the material damage caused to the public transport bus fleet during the protests in Tirana at approximately 2 million lekë.

Kostandin Foni, head of the National Urban Transport Association, said that the extent of the damage is still being assessed and verified; therefore, the final figure may change once a full evaluation of the damage is completed.

According to him, the protests resulted in damage to vehicles and service interruptions, preventing public transport operators from completing their scheduled routes. Foni emphasized that the temporary suspension of service was necessitated by the inability to ensure the normal and safe movement of buses, as well as the need to protect passengers and staff and prevent further damage.

He underscored that a return to normal traffic conditions does not necessarily mean an immediate resumption of full-capacity service, as the damaged buses require repairs and technical inspections before they can return to operation.

The suspension of public transport directly affects citizens who rely on buses daily to commute to work, reach educational institutions and attend to other everyday needs.

The National Urban Transport Association has stated that the full restoration of service will depend on stabilization of the situation, the assurance of safe traffic conditions and the completion of repairs to the damaged vehicles.

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