Panama Government Starts Process to Approve Metrobus Specifications
From 7 to 14 January 2010 the Panamanian government will conduct a formal approval process for the tender specifications for the new Metrobus system, confirmed Jimmy Papadimitriu, the Minister of the Presidency. So far about 20 companies have expressed their interest in participating in this process. According to Papadimitriu the winner of the Metrobus contract will be announced by about mid-March 2010. With respect to the compensation that will be paid to bus owners he said those payments will be made once they begin to renew the bus fleet. He added that when a particular bus is replaced, then they will make payment to the owner. On the same topic, Rep. Marcos Gonzalez confirmed that the National Chamber of Transport will establish which routes and which carries will be compensated. The old buses turned over to the government will be rehabilitated by the Inadeh and then returned to the Ministry of Education for use as school buses. (Source: Kathyria Caicedo for Telemetro Reporta)
