ArmInfo.Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) and the Embassy of Japan in Armenia signed the Grant Agreement for the "Project for Provision of Public Bus in Lori Province" on March 01, providing grant aid of $90,000+ to promote more sustainable transportation in Armenia's Lori region through a new, disabled-friendly bus, an expanded network of transport routes, and the renovation of poor transportation infrastructure.
Hosted by the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the signing ceremony was launched with a series of welcome remarks by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan, the Ambassador of Japan to Armenia H.E. Mr. Masanori Fukushima, and COAF Managing Director Korioun Khatchadourian.
The public transportation system in Armenia's northern Lori region is rudimentary and insecure, offering residents access to one dilapidated bus that connects Dsegh and the region's capital, Vanadzor, only once a day without passing through the villages along the route. The self-initiative of the local bus driver, who has replaced the old bus with a new one, coupled with the new, state-of-the-art bus provided in the scope of this initiative, allows for the establishment of an efficient transport route that runs at hourly intervals, connecting seven communities along the Dsegh-Vanadzor path, with integrated stops at the COAF SMART Center in Debet village and the forthcoming SMART Health Center in Dsegh.
