Tbilisi Mayor admits traffic congestion “prominent challenge”

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has identified traffic congestion as a prominent challenge in the capital, attributing it to the “excessive number of cars.” He informed reporters on Thursday that approximately 650,000 vehicles navigate through the city streets during rush hours.

Kaladze highlighted that the situation was exacerbated on Wednesday when an additional 54 traffic accidents occurred in the Vake-Saburtalo area.

“The only viable solution to address this issue is the City Hall’s ongoing policy focusing on the enhancement of public transport, the establishment of new bus lanes, and the addition of buses,” he stated.Despite the persistent traffic jams, the mayor emphasized that emergency vehicles face no hindrance in navigating the city:

“Even though the city experiences traffic congestion, both ambulances and fire department vehicles can maneuver without difficulty. This is attributed to a societal norm where citizens yield to emergency vehicles.”

On December 13, streets in the capital were affected by traffic jams, causing extended travel times for residents.