Transport authorities in Algiers have issued a final five-day ultimatum for operators of buses over 30 years old to renew their operating permits or face automatic withdrawal, as part of a wider push to modernise the public transport fleet.
Transport authorities in Algiers have issued a final warning to operators of public transport vehicles aged over 30 years, giving them five days to submit renewal applications or risk losing their operating permits. The directive, announced by the wilaya's Transport Directorate, targets professionals whose vehicles are listed in an annex to the official notice. Failure to comply will result in the immediate and automatic withdrawal of their authorisation to operate, with no further extensions or exceptions planned.
This measure is specifically aimed at operators who have not responded to previous calls to regularise their administrative status, despite their vehicles exceeding three decades in service. The authorities have made clear that this is the last opportunity for compliance, and the countdown began with the publication of the notice.
Sanctions for Non-Compliance and Broader Enforcement
According to the Transport Directorate, any operator who fails to submit the required documentation within the five-day window will see their permit revoked without further notice. This will immediately bar the affected vehicles from operating and prevent their owners from continuing their transport activities. The administrative sanction will be accompanied by legal and regulatory procedures as stipulated by current legislation. The capital has previously enforced similar measures: in August, an inspection campaign in Caroubier and Bachdjerrah led to the withdrawal of 12 permits out of 77 vehicles checked, with official reports filed for each case.
This crackdown is part of a broader national initiative to modernise Algeria's public transport fleet, which began last summer in several wilayas. The programme initially targeted buses put into service in 1996 or earlier, and Algiers is now applying the same approach with a strict deadline. The authorities' focus on vehicle age is also reflected in other road safety measures, such as the enforcement of fines for night driving without proper lighting, as highlighted in a recent report on penalties for non-compliant motorists.
Fleet Renewal and Sector Challenges
The current ultimatum aligns with the government's wider strategy to renew the public transport fleet. Earlier this year, the Minister of the Interior, Saïd Sayoud, called for an acceleration of the programme to replace 10,000 ageing buses and strengthen road safety measures. National guidelines now go beyond the Algiers threshold, calling for the permanent removal of collective transport vehicles older than 25 years, to be replaced with new units. For now, Algiers is prioritising the most critical cases.
However, professional associations have raised concerns about the challenges facing operators, including maintenance difficulties and the lack of import solutions for spare parts. The National Taxi Drivers' Union has urged the authorities to provide more substantial support for fleet renewal, citing the deteriorating condition of many vehicles and the operational pressures on the sector.
