BRT service set to commence as 138 buses arrive

Dar es Salaam. A total of 138 buses for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project arrived at Dar es Salaam port yesterday, setting the stage for the start of the grand public transport scheme next month.

The much-awaited project is expected to transport between 300,000 and 350,000 commuters every day.

It covers about 20.9 kilometres from the Kimara terminal to Kivukoni; Msimbazi Street from Fire to Kariakoo-Gerezani and part of Kawawa Road from Magomeni to the Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Kawawa roads junction.

Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Said Meck Sadik was among those who witnessed the handing over of the buses from China yesterday.

He allayed fears that fares would be as high as Sh900 per trip.

“This information was spread through social media...it’s misleading information,” Mr Sadik said.

He said only agencies working under the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra) were responsible for setting and announcing fares.

UDA-RT Company has been tasked with running the project for an interim period expected to start next month. UDA-RT spokesman Sabri Mabruki said the consignment that arrived yesterday included 101 12-metre and 39 18-metre buses, adding that service would commence a few days after the vehicles were cleared from the port.

“We promised the buses will arrive this month and we have fulfilled our promise,” he said, adding that all 140 buses they ordered, including the two which arrived early for training of drivers, were now in the country.

Mr Mabruki added that the buses were of a high quality and had met the standards and specifications for which they were ordered to meet BRT needs.

The project is expected to significantly reduce traffic jams and congestion in Dar es Salaam.