Over 26 electric school minibuses are on the right, half a year. These were bought by the Botoșani County Council and given to the city halls. However, the minibuses were not accompanied by the necessary documents and the procedure proves to be a real nightmare.
Electric minibuses were brought before the County Council Photo Doina Federovici
For about six months, 26 school minibuses have been drawn to the right, in Botosani County, because the authorities have not even managed to register them and carry out all the necessary documents for their operation. In some cases, the steps will extend until after the Easter vacation. Some say that the bureaucracy but also the lack of interest of the officials and those responsible for transmitting the necessary documents is to blame. The minibuses were missing in the winter, when the children from the country in Botosani county had the most need for them. Many beat whole miles on foot because the minibuses could not be used.
Presented with great fast in the election campaign
The 26 minibuses are electric and were purchased last year by the Botosani County Council through PNRR. The total amount was 7.2 million euros. Part of the minibuses were brought in October 2024, in front of the building of the County Council, in full election campaign for parliamentary, and presented as an execution of the Executive at that time. Festively, the nine minibuses in the parking lot of the County Council (the other 17 minibuses were brought later), were delivered to the mayors. Pictures were taken, speeches were spoken and thanks were formulated.
Since October last year until near half of March, almost six months have passed. During this time, in the minibuses he did not step on the student’s foot. And this under the conditions in which, in the rural area, they were essential for the transport of schools from villages to school schools. Especially in the cold season. The minibuses were handed over to the authorities, but many of them were on the right. And they still sit on the right in the courts of the schools or town halls.
Buses drawn to the right of bureaucracy and steps in step by Melc
The reason why these minibuses are not on the route and do not take the students from school, at home and vice versa, is the lack of the necessary documents. After receiving the minibus, the local authorities woke up with a huge headache. The minibuses had red numbers but they did not have identity cards, necessary minutes and no transport licenses. Everything fell to the town halls. In the meantime, the Administration was changed to the County Council. Some rushed too hard, the others complain that the rush was for nothing. It is certain that the documents have reached very late at the mayors.
“I received the minibus but not the identity card. I received it much later. By mid -February I just received the identity card. Without it we couldn’t register it. After we register the minibus, we must remove the transport license. So it lasts. There are still enough steps. I received the minibus but the documents came much later. It is not even registered yet ”says Constantin Cucoreanu, the mayor of Tudora commune, the beneficiaries of such a minibus.
In Lozna commune, the situation was the same. “I received the minibus but without the necessary documents. How to register it if you do not have your identity card. It came later, I think after a few months and we started the steps ”says Viorel Lozneanu, the mayor of the commune.
“The minibuses had no identity card when I received them”another mayor said. In addition, the town halls were forced to make electric minibus charging stations. “It was at our expense the loading stations. We complied ””said the mayor of Stăuceni commune.
In many cases, the loading stations were a problem because the town halls did not yet have the budgets and the investments could not be made. In addition to the 26 minibuses already delivered, another 10 electric minibuses bought from the savings made at the first auction will be brought. They will arrive in May. Minibuses are essential in the rural area. And this under the conditions in which many village schools have been dismantled and few remaining students moved to center schools. Some go and 5 kilometers to get home. These are about 2000 students in this situation.
