The Mayor of Tbilisi has put forth a proposal to impose potential restrictions on specific vehicle categories within the capital to mitigate traffic congestion.

“Private transport fleet in Tbilisi is a very big problem. In 2012, there were about 180,000 cars traveling around the capital, and today that number has grown to 600,000. We expect that these figures will continue to grow. Another problem is that we often see large trucks during rush hours. With their size and volume, they further impede traffic and at the same time increase the likelihood of accidents, which in turn results on long traffic obstructions.

To overcome this problem, we believe that one important step will be to limit the traffic of oversized vehicles during peak hours. We have not yet made a final decision. We are working on this issue with the business sector and we have had a number of meetings with representatives of Business Association of Georgia [BAG]. I want to thank them. We have presented them our vision. This communication continues. We are going to meet with all representatives of the business sector and deliver information on this issue. We think that once we have a final agreement, we will implement this regulation beginning next January.

Obviously, the restriction will have a significant impact on the economic sector and businesses initially. Accordingly, we have been working on this initiative with BAG. We had several working meetings where all sectors were represented, we exchanged positions, took into account comments and opinions and as a result, through active communication with them, we will present our coordinated position.

Within the administrative boundaries of Tbilisi Municipality, the traffic of vehicles of M3, H2 and H3 categories will be prohibited on public roads from 08:00 to 11:00 am and from 17:00 to 20:00 pm; the traffic will not be prohibited throughout the city, but only in certain parts of the city where there are large flows during peak hours and the traffic is associated with certain difficulties. The sectors will be duly organized in time to avoid their simultaneous movement across the city.

This restriction shall not be used on Saturdays and Sundays, or holidays as provided for in the Labor Code. Neither will it be used in August. We believe that August should be free to travel, because usually during this period the city is relatively empty, the people leave for vacation, and therefore, we can make this exception.

The exceptions will be public transport; transport necessary to deal with extraordinary emergencies and cases of danger to life and health; transport necessary for the implementation of municipal or state infrastructure projects; transport necessary for the mobility of schoolchildren and students; Transport necessary for tourism activities, etc.

The traffic restrictions shall not apply to these vehicles. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that one of the important sectors of the economy that will be significantly affected by this regulation is the construction sector. It contributes greatly to the economic development of the country and is particularly important for the capital. We are communicating with the construction sector as well, but no agreement has been reached yet. They have their opinion, and we have ours. We are taking everyone’s interests into account”, - said Kakha Kaladze.