DAR ES SALAAM, Aug 14 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — Tanzania’s PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has directed operators of the second phase of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project to work round the clock to ensure the swift completion of infrastructure preparations along the remaining sections of the route, allowing for the immediate commencement of services.
He issued the directives while inspecting the newly acquired 99 buses for the second phase of the BRT and its supportive infrastructures, which include the Mbagala Rangi Tatu BRT Main Station and Gerezani Bus Stop in Dar es Salaam.
He also visited a special designated Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station for the new rapid buses which is under construction at the Mbagala Rangi Tatu Station.
“We want this project to start providing services to Tanzanians especially, Dar es Salaam residents. This project will boost efficiency of the public transport in the Dar es Salaam by bringing modern services, which are safe and fast for the citizens,” he said.
In a related development, Majaliwa directed Executive Director of the Mofat Company Limited, Mohammad Kassim to speed up clearance of the new buses at the Dar es Salaam Port for the operation to kick off.
He said the government is keen to see travel tickets issued electronically rather than through conventional paperbased methods, as was done in the past.
“By doing that it will be ease for us to monitor the amount of cash collected,” Majaliwa said.
Furthermore, he urged Tanzanians to be proactive in seizing job opportunities arising from the project, which requires a large workforce, including drivers.
He called on interested citizens to upgrade their driving skills at the National Institute of Technology (NIT).
Regarding BRT’s CNG station, Majaliwa instructed Lake Oil Company, which is implementing the project to complete installation of machines and start providing services.
The new 99 buses are part of the strategic investment by the Mofat Company Limited, a local firm intending to upgrade transport services in the commercial hub by adding a total of 255 new buses valued at about 200bn/-.
Each of the new articulated buses stretches 18-metre long and is powered by natural gases in supporting the country’s climate action targets of cutting carbon emissions.
Under the Mofat Company Limited, the new buses will operate the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) phase two stretching 20.3 kilometres from Mbagala to Gerezani along Kilwa Road as well as Magomeni and Chang’ombe along Kilwa Road.
In an interview with the Daily News recently, Dar es Salaam Rapid Transport Agency’s (DART) Executive Director, Dr Athuman Kihamia said the new buses would commence operation before Aug 30 this year.
“For the first time in the history of our country, the articulated buses will use natural gases as fuels,” he said. He hinted that currently the new buses at the Dar es Salaam Port are undergoing final logistic procedures.
Dr Kihamia said other 52 brand new articulated buses, property of Mofat Company Limited are en route to Dar es Salaam from China and are expected to arrive within this month.
This transformative investment follows the two contracts inked by DART with the Mofat Company Limited and the Emirates National Group (ENG), an Abu Dhabi-based company and the Mofat Company Limited to boost transport services in the region. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
