of the station has been occupied by a bat colony. In January 2012, the owners of the station filed for its bankruptcy. Expected closure On 24 October 2021, the Tel Aviv Court for Local Affairs has issued a closure order for the New Central Bus Station from December 2021. Consequently, the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality and the Israel Fire and Rescue Services have told the store owners that they would have to close from 5 December and the bus companies would also have to make alternative arrangements. Earlier that month, the Tel Aviv - Yafo Municipality, Ministry of Transport and the Israel Land Authority announced that the station would close down, and a new terminal near the Panorama Center in southern Tel Aviv would be set up. That move is to be sped up because the Fire Service has refused to give the Central Bus Station a license to operate. Specifications The complex includes a shopping mall serviced by 29 escalators and 13 elevators with over 1,000 shops and restaurants. Only three of the seven floors are used as a bus terminal. The main entrances are on the north and east sides of 4th floor. Most intercity buses leave from a departure hall on the north (main) wing on 6th floor. On the 7th floor, which was an addition to the original building, there is a departure hall for local buses (to destinations within Gush Dan) on the north wing, and another departure hall for intercity buses (to destination in the Galilee) on the south wing. The wings of this level are completely separated. The station serves Egged, Veolia (formerly Connex), Superbus, Metropoline, Afikim and Nateev Express intercity bus routes as well as local Dan, Egged and Kavim city and suburban buses. In 2008, approximately 100,000 people visited the station building every day. In 2018 this number went down to 80,000. It covers 230,000 m2 and a total area of 44 dunams (44,000 m2). Tel Aviv central bus station is located near Tel Aviv HaHagana Railway Station, but there is no direct link between them. Although the Tel Aviv Central Bus station is the largest bus station in Tel Aviv in terms of building size, the Tel Aviv Central Bus Terminal (also known as the "2000 Terminal" and situated next to the Tel Aviv central railway station) handles considerably more bus passengers per day than the Central Bus Station. Problems and