CVA revision: Transport Malta finds ‘inflated’ prices for cameras

The forthcoming overhaul of Valletta's controlled vehicular access (CVA) has discovered questionable direct orders from the transport minister to the operator of the CVA, amounting to an allegedly "inflated" €258,000 purchase of two cameras.

Transport Malta had issued the direct order for the urgent purchase of the two cameras after a hiccup encountered in the traffic arrangements for Valletta following the introduction of the CVA, which bills cars entering the capital city according to the duration of their stay.

Weeks before the last general elections in March 2013, bollards blocking a side road into Merchants' Street had to be removed, leading motorists entering Valletta to use a side road to exit the city.

The traffic arrangement meant that the CVA's cameras, which identify cars' licence plates as they enter and leave Valletta, could not pick up those cars and bill the motorists.

While the contractual agreement between the CVA operators and the government stipulated that any additional camera should cost Transport Malta €190,000, the 'bollard incident' led to a direct order for two cameras which were eventually discounted to €285,000.

But Transport Authority officials confirmed to MaltaToday that the retail cost of the cameras is far lower and the cost of the cameras was found to be inflated.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat now says the CVA parking system will be reviewed by the end of the year or scrapped, claiming the system has had a negative impact on the Valletta business community.

Muscat said the government was looking at various Valletta parking options that included reverting to the old system, whereby people paid an annual licence to drive into the capital. Other options included extending the times when motorists could enter Valletta for free.

On its part, the Chamber of SMEs (GRTU) on Saturday said that the system had been "a failure."

"It has made life for consumers, commuters and business owners miserable. There is definitely no space in Valletta for everybody to park their car in the city, but the park-and-ride system must stay but revert to a free service."

The GRTU said that while the CVA was unnecessary during the afternoon hours, the peak morning rationing of vehicles entering the city should be ruled by one system against payment and subject to a time limit.

The GRTU believes that all reserved parking, without exception, including residents' privileged green boxes, must go, as well as those for MPs and ministers, who should have their reserved parking outside the City or at Fort St Elmo. "Ministers and MPs should be offered free electric cars transporting them from their reserved car parks outside the city. Valletta belongs to all of us, and the big shots should set the example of eco-friendliness and social responsibility."