Infrastructure and Transport Ministry

The Infrastructure and Transport Ministry bill titled "Restructuring the Railway Sector and Strengthening Transport Regulatory Bodies" was passed in principle by the parliamentary plenary with 157 votes in favor, 133 against, and one abstention.

The American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and the Regional Authority of Central Macedonia are organizing the fourth Thessaloniki Future Thinking Dialogues, titled "Urban Resilience for Future-Ready Cities," under the auspices of the Infrastructure and Transport Ministry on Friday.

The event is to be held at The MET hotel in Thessaloniki. For more information, go to amcham.gr.

Making the reduced VAT rate for taxis - from 24% to 13% - permanent, as announced by the National Economy and Finance Ministry, "proves the government's willingness to actively support the sector of taxi drivers," Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras said on Thursday.

A bridge on the Athens-Corinth National Road is being demolished after a fire caused by an overturned truck severely damaged the structure on Friday night.

The incident occurred near the Isthmus of Corinth. The truck driver was hospitalized before facing a prosecutor. He has since been released.

A single agency will be set up to manage the railway infrastructure in Greece by incorporating the three subsidiaries of state-run Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE), the Infrastructure and Transport Ministry has said.

The Environment and Energy Ministry has given the green light for the construction of a new central station for intercity buses in the Eleonas district of Athens. The project received approval after the environmental terms were approved.

Drivers or companies deemed responsible for blocking traffic on a national highway will be penalized with fines that could reach up to 1 million euros, according to new rules introduced by the Infrastructure and Transport Ministry.

The new members of the cabinet, announced last Friday, are to be sworn in during a ceremony at 6.30 p.m. on Monday during a ceremony at the presidential mansion to be attended by President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras carried out a light reshuffle on Friday, as had been long expected, promoting Giorgos Katrougalos to foreign minister and bringing in officials who had served under former socialist premier George Papandreou as deputy ministers, amid mounting speculation of likely snap polls in May.