Gyumri and Vanadzor to be Supplemented with Electric Buses for the First Time

Gyumri and Vanadzor will be supplemented with electric buses for the first time. Each city will receive five electric buses. This was announced during a press conference for the completion of the EU-funded project titled "Alliance for Sustainable and Green Governance." The conference presented the activities and achievements carried out within the scope of the program for the years 2021-2024.

Thanks to the program, the municipalities of Vanadzor and Gyumri now have policies and procedures that promote sustainable and innovative urban development, waste recycling, and green public transport. Eco-friendly public transport will operate in the municipalities, equipped with electronic ticket validation systems. Soon, plastic recycling lines will be established to produce construction materials for the improvement of public spaces, and the municipalities have developed technical skills to manage new tools in urban planning, waste recycling, and public transport.

The program has enabled Vanadzor and Gyumri to create "Geographic Information Systems," which are vital in the field of urban development. Through a comprehensive system of data storage and management, urban management structures have access to all necessary information regarding infrastructure, utility systems, communication networks, spatial planning, and environmental protection, allowing for informed decision-making.

Within the framework of the program, several campaigns were conducted with different community groups aimed at changing environmental behavior and raising awareness, and retraining sessions were held to develop the capacities of teachers and public servants. Vanadzor and Gyumri will share their experiences with neighboring communities.

“It is extremely important for us not only to acquire the technology gained through the program but also to change citizens' behavior. This program helped us fill the gap that our city had,” said Gyumri Mayor Vardges Samsonyan, expressing hope that the program will continue.

“I am pleased to announce today that the program has concluded, solving all the problems it set out to address and implementing all components. At the end of the program, we have no unrealized procurement in terms of purchases,” said Natalia Lapaurin, director of the "Alliance for Sustainable and Green Governance" program, noting that the five electric buses acquired to reduce emissions are currently at the customs and will be handed over to the municipalities next week.

The EU-funded project "Alliance for Sustainable and Green Governance" started in February 2021. The duration of the project was 40 months, with a total budget of €4,360,849.2. The aim of the project was to promote sustainable and green governance of urban development in the communities of Vanadzor and Gyumri through the improvement of the legal-political processes and the quality of service delivery in the region.