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The restructuring of the country’s railway network, the reduction of the cost of public transport and the strengthening of the public character of urban transport through the creation of transport service companies with the participation of the OASA and the municipalities of the country are included in the pre-election program of SYRIZA-PS which announced it last Friday.
As mentioned, “The tragic accident in Tempe has highlighted the disastrous consequences of ND’s policy in transport and infrastructure. This tragedy must be a turning point for the reconstruction of infrastructure and public transport, with a view to safety of citizens and the creation of reliable and universally accessible services”.
With regard to rail, SYRIZA undertakes to:
- Reorganization of the rail network
- Direct recruitment on merit in OSEs and subsidiaries
- Strengthening of the Railway Regulatory Authority with specialized staff and financial resources
- Examination and control of the implementation of the investment plan of Hellenic Train, as well as of the agreement of services of economic interest (IOS)
- Completion of projects to interconnect the main commercial ports with the network
In urban transport, the objective of the program is the direct supply of new buses for Athens and Thessaloniki, as dcreate incentives to increase the use of urban transport. To this end, SYRIZA promises mreduction in the price of a monthly card with unlimited journeys (from 27 euros to 10 euros) as well as the implementation of flexible pricing policies for the disabled, students, the unemployed, etc.
In order to reinforce the public nature of urban transport, SYRIZA includes in its program the promotion andnon-profit agreement, so that OASA (as the main organization of urban transport know-how in the country) can create joint companies with municipalities/regions for the provision of urban and interurban transport. In addition, urban public transport will be integrated from Hellenic Holdings and Property Company SA (Super Fund).
For taxis, SYRIZA will, for example, carry outfull activation of the existing regulatory framework n.4530/2018 for the operation of taxis in the country, with protection for the small owner-employee and away from the abusive logic that prevails in digital sharing platforms. Creation of a public taxi reservation application, free of charge for users and drivers (on the model of France/Le Taxi and Catalonia). Proper functioning of the EIX contract digital platform and the creation of a register of guided rentals.
With regard to public works, SYRIZA’s planning is as follows:
- Generously support technical SMEs (via the Hellenic Development Bank), so that they can cope with the current situation.
- Amendments to the basic legislative framework for public procurement to protect everyone’s access to public works tenders
- Development of a mechanism for early forecasting of needs, in technical and non-specialized personnel, but also in unqualified personnel
- End of the “bundling” of projects attempted by the Mitsotakis government
- Preservation of the public character of EYDAP and EYATH (detachment of the Superfonds – implementation of the decision of the Council of Ministers), and of the networks/reservoirs/dams etc.
- Development of anti-flood projects to protect human life, property and infrastructure, promoting nature-based solutions
- Review of the civil aviation regulatory framework, the main features of which are the safety of passengers, airspace users and the country’s airports
- Modernization of publicly owned regional airports
- Reorganization into a modern/main organization implementing public construction projects and implementing public projects to solve the housing problem (for the purposes of the Labor Housing Organization)
- Provision for pro rata billing of tolls on all future concessions, with special provision for permanent residents
Finally, as indicated, the framework of the infrastructure and transport program is as follows:
- It serves the objectives of a coherent development strategy, also oriented towards the objective of climate neutrality
- It leads to the creation of a new infrastructure park, in line with the EU-funded National Transport Strategic Plan (2019). and was implemented in collaboration with the EIB and the European Commission’s Structural Reform Support Service (EC SRSS). Something that ensures the possibility of financing the projects
- It mobilizes resources from the Recovery and Resilience Fund
- Maximizes its developmental footprint on GDP, wages and employment, with endogenous characteristics, by mobilizing domestic resources
- It leads to the gradual decarbonization of transport
- Preserves the public character of businesses and unhindered access to basic public goods and services (e.g. water, transport)
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