A new delivery of Attica buses is unveiled as Transport Minister Michalis Liapis announces a series of imminent changes to the transportation system in Athens, yesterday. Liapis said that the recent stricter policing of bus lanes, preventing motorists and taxi drivers from using them during certain hours, had speeded up buses by up to 20 percent.

The creation of a single body in charge of Athens transport, a limit on the hours shops can receive deliveries and an in-depth study of changes that need to be made to public transport in Attica are among the measures that Transport Minister Michalis Liapis announced yesterday.

“The year 2005 will be one of significant planning,” Liapis said, adding that restrictions on when Athens stores can receive deliveries would be finalized next week. Sources told Kathimerini that drivers will not be able to unload goods between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

A draft law will be submitted to Parliament within the next two months proposing the formation of an organization to oversee transport matters in the capital, the minister said. He added that a public transport study would begin soon, examining projects such as an extension of the tram into the congested Piraeus center.

Liapis said that recent measures like the introduction of travelcards, extra bus routes, express trams and longer operation hours had been a success.