Bus operators turn to shuttles for passenger convenient drop-offs

Dar es Salaam. Upcountry bus operators are introducing shuttle services to ferry passengers from city offices to Magufuli Bus Terminal as they adjust to a government directive requiring long-distance buses to operate from the facility.

The move follows a directive by Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila requiring upcountry bus operators to use the terminal as part of efforts to ease congestion and improve traffic management in the city centre.

Before the directive, operators collected passengers from their offices and various pick-up points, allowing travellers to board closer to their homes or workplaces.

Companies including BM Coach, Tihilisho Bus Safaris and Ally’s Star have since introduced shuttles to connect passengers with the terminal.

BM director Basil Makundi said the company had stationed shuttles at its Shekilango and Kigamboni offices and planned to extend the service to Chanika.

“We introduced the shuttles to make travelling easier for our customers. A passenger pays the same fare shown on the ticket and does not have to pay anything extra for the shuttle,” he said.

Tilisho Bus Safaris director John Barthalome said the company was also using shuttles to transport passengers to Magufuli, particularly those travelling on its VIP and VVIP services.

“Most of our buses are VIP and VVIP, with fares ranging between Sh80,000 and Sh100,000. We created a good environment for our customers at our offices. If we lose these customers, we lose business. That is why we introduced the shuttles,” he said.

He said some customers who previously preferred air travel had switched to buses bAecause of the convenience and quality of service.

However, Mr Barthalome said the terminal lacked adequate secure and comfortable spaces for premium passengers to wait, work or access the internet before departure.

He said shuttles also helped protect passengers, particularly those booking tickets online, from touts at the terminal.

“Some customers book tickets online and, when they arrive at the terminal, they are approached by touts and moved from one place to another. Sometimes the bus leaves while the passenger is still looking for it,” he said.

Tilisho currently picks up passengers at Ubungo Riverside before taking them to the terminal.

Mr Barthalome said another challenge was that shuttles were allowed to take passengers to Magufuli but could not pick them up from the terminal and return them to the city.

Ally’s Star chief communications officer James Musa said the shuttle arrangement was intended to minimise inconvenience caused by the new operating system.

He said passengers from Kimara towards Kibaha could board directly at Magufuli, while those from Mbagala, Kigamboni, Posta, Kariakoo, Sinza, Kinondoni, Mikocheni and Manzese were required to report to the company’s Argentina office in Manzese.

The company then transports them to the terminal in time for departure.

Mr Musa advised passengers to report to the office at least one hour before their scheduled departure time to allow sufficient time for the transfer.