Wednesday, 11th December 2024

Velika Gorica Becomes Largest Croatian City to Offer Free Public Transport

The Croatian city of Velika Gorica has joined the ranks of cities providing free public transportation 

As the sixth largest city in Croatia, following Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek, and Zadar, Velika Gorica now holds the title of the largest city in the country to offer this service.

Located 16 km south of Zagreb, Velika Gorica gained city status in 1995 and is the largest city in Zagreb County. It has a population of around 30,000 within the city and 65,000 in the municipality.

Autotrans d.d. from Cres, a member of the Arriva group, is the provider of municipal passenger transport in Velika Gorica under a seven-year contract. “Bus transport by the mentioned carrier within Velika Gorica is free for all passengers, regardless of whether they are residents of Velika Gorica or other places,” stated the Department of Municipal Services and Transport of Velika Gorica.

The seven-year municipal transport contract between the city and Arriva is valued at €20.5 million, excluding VAT, which averages just under €3 million annually. This year’s budget for Velika Gorica is a record high, exceeding €122 million, as reported by N1. Reflecting its ancient winemaking history, the city’s name means ‘big vineyard’ in the local dialect, and it is also home to Franjo Tuđman Airport, the busiest airport in Croatia.