A new hotline has been established to assist individuals with questions or issues related to the road transport department’s (TOM) remit, according to Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades. This initiative, announced on Monday during the signing of the contract, aims to enhance the support provided to citizens.
Vafeades stated, “[The hotline] will serve citizens who want to contact the department of road transport for any reason.” He acknowledged that the previous quality of support had fallen short of the ministry’s expectations, indicating that the new call centre is expected to rectify this significant problem.
Road transport: Improving Citizen Support
The transport minister expressed confidence that the call centre would operate on a more professional basis, significantly improving service delivery. He noted, “Today, with this action, the call centre will operate on a much more professional basis and thus citizens will be served much better within the six weeks that we expect this action to be completed. We will definitely see a huge difference.” This optimism comes as the ministry works to address ongoing concerns and enhance communication with the public.
Addressing Takata Airbag Recall Issues
In light of the ongoing replacement of Takata airbags, the call centre is expected to provide relevant assistance regarding this critical safety issue. Vafeades explained that while securing an appointment for the recall is the responsibility of citizens and the company handling the recall, the department has always been willing to engage with companies on behalf of the public.
The first vehicles affected by the Takata recall were immobilised at the beginning of October. In February, Vafeades had announced an eight-month grace period for vehicle owners, which has since expired. As of early November, a total of 63,144 out of 81,060 defective airbags identified in Cyprus as part of the global recall have been replaced, according to the transport ministry.
Upcoming Appointments for Replacements
Most of the recalled vehicles have already received replacement airbags, with an additional 4,327 appointments for Takata replacements scheduled until the end of January. The success of these appointments depends on the availability of parts and the responsiveness of vehicle owners to scheduling requests.
