Podgorica city buses will be operating with a reduced schedule, with departures every hour starting from 10 am. From July 16th, frequency will decrease even further, as per the summer schedule that has been made available on the local “Putevi” company’s website.

Many residents in Podgorica find this decision by the city transport company to be completely inappropriate, particularly during the hottest days when they often face long waits for overcrowded buses. Additionally, they have to leave their homes at least two hours in advance to reach work or scheduled appointments on time…

The city transportation authority “Putevi” has yet to respond to “Vijesti” regarding the inquiries submitted last week.

“There are times when I have to leave home two hours before my shift just to wait for the bus under the scorching sun. For instance, my shift starts at 3 PM. To make it from the Zlatica neighborhood to work, I need to catch a bus by 2 PM. Often, I find myself running late due to unexpected traffic jams. I have a monthly pass, but it feels like a waste considering students ride for free and buses run every half hour for them. Yet when it comes to us who pay, the schedule is just absurd,” shared one concerned citizen who reached out to the editorial team.

Beyond the summer schedule, residents are also voicing their grievances about severe overcrowding on buses, alongside frequent issues with the air conditioning. They particularly note that Line 19, which travels from Konik to Blok 6, poses significant challenges.

“On that line, the air conditioning is often non-functional, leading the middle door to remain open. With so many people commuting during the summer schedule, this brings about safety concerns as well,” remarked another resident, who uses that route at least twice daily during the workweek.

The management of “Putevi,” led by Rados Zecevic, has not provided any feedback to “Vijesti” regarding potential revisions of the summer timetable, especially in light of the soaring temperatures.

Zečević’s company has not clarified whether the allegations regarding malfunctioning air conditioners in their buses are true or provided any timeline for repairs.

Earlier in June, the city introduced a new feature allowing residents to track public transit buses in real time.

This service is available through the ePodgorica.me portal in the Public City Transport section.

“Citizens can now easily check the location of their bus and estimate arrival times at their desired stops. This new system represents a significant advancement in modernizing public transport services, tailored to the needs and expectations of users,” they previously announced.

Furthermore, alongside existing monthly passes, a prepaid option has been introduced, enabling users to add funds as needed and utilize the card based on their travel habits.

“The new system gathers essential data that will help analyze passenger behavior, optimize routes, and facilitate future public transport developments. The second phase of the project is currently in progress, which will allow for electronic top-ups and ticket purchases via the existing system on the ePodgorica portal, enhancing user experience,” the statement concluded.

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