Sofia celebrated 125 years of electric transport with the validation of a special jubilee postage stamp at a ceremony at the Tourist Information Center “Tram 83“ opposite Central Halls.
The anniversary edition was officially validated by placing a special postage stamp by Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev, Minister of Transport and Communications Korman Ismailov and Deputy Mayor for Transport Viktor Chaushev.
“We have a city of over a million and a half people, with growing expectations and a system that has long been maintained at the edge of its capabilities. When you start from such a fact, you have to think on a scale and with a vision for the future“, said Mayor Vasil Terziev.
According to him, the Sofia Municipality is changing the way it approaches the development of public transport, placing emphasis on long-term planning and building sustainable capacity.
As main priorities, he highlighted three areas - investments in systems with a long life cycle, better connectivity between neighborhoods and a financially sustainable development model. In this context, electric transport occupies a central place as infrastructure that creates long-term value for the city.
„This is the biggest challenge - to build a system that will work not only today, but also in 20-30 years.“, Terziev also pointed out.
He emphasized that the municipality's approach is aimed at well-prepared solutions that will work over time, not at short-term measures: „We are not looking for the fastest solution, but the one that works best in the long term.“
The mayor also emphasized the need for clear rules and responsibility in the management of the city, noting the importance of the decision of the Supreme Administrative Court to declare the nullity of the order of the former regional governor, which attempted to limit the mayor's right to return for new discussion decisions of the Sofia Municipal Council, including those related to appointments in municipal companies. “This is an important sign that the powers are not a formality and cannot be circumvented“, he said.
The event was also attended by the executive director of “Bulgarian Posts“ EAD Zdravko Anakiev and the author of the artistic project Svetlin Balezdrov.
Deputy Mayor for Transport Viktor Chaushev emphasized that the celebration of the anniversary goes hand in hand with real work on the development of the system.
He recalled that the anniversary was already marked in January with retro trams in the center of Sofia, and in recent months concrete steps have been taken to improve the network, including proposals for new lines and better connections between neighborhoods, as well as the preparation of new rolling stock.
Chaushev stated that the development of electric transport is a shared responsibility between the municipality and the state, and thanked the Ministry of Transport and Communications for the partnership on the publication.
The event is part of a series of initiatives with which the Sofia Municipality marks 125 years since the beginning of electric transport in Sofia - a system that remains a key element of urban mobility and the subject of large-scale plans for renovation and development.