DART in talks with private sector to secure over 2,000 buses for Dar es Salaam’s BRT phases
Dar es Salaam. The Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART) is in discussions with the private sector to acquire 2,325 buses that will serve all four phases of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the city, the agency chief executive Athumani Kihamia has said.
Speaking to The Citizen about the progress of the road infrastructure project which is implemented in four phases, Dr Kihamia revealed the plans for bus distribution across the phases.
"We expect 305 additional buses for Phase I, 755 buses for Phase II, 675 buses for Phase III, and 590 for Phase IV," he said.
Phase One of the project that stretches from Kimara to the city centre, through Morogoro road, was commissioned in 2016 while the second phase which connects the city centre with Mbagala area, through Kilwa road is almost complete, scheduled to start operations this December.
The third and fourth phases are still under construction.
Dr Kihamia explained that the project is a public-private partnership where the private sector will be responsible for purchasing, managing, and maintaining the buses, while the public sector will oversee the overall project.
He also mentioned that the process of competitive bidding is ongoing for all four phases, with buses set to arrive as construction nears completion.
"The plan is to have the buses in the country when construction reaches 95 percent completion," he added.
BRT project manager Frank Mbilinyi reported that construction of Phase II, covering the 20.3km from Mbagala to Gerezani, is now complete and has met the required standards.
"The completion of this infrastructure will significantly boost the economy and ease transportation for residents of Dar es Salaam and the Coast region," he said.
The part is currently awaiting final inspection by a consulting engineer before being handed over to the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads).
Sinohydro Construction Limited (SCL), the Chinese contractor responsible for the project, is expected to hand over the completed infrastructure this September.
He said the construction of Phase III, which spans 23.3 km from Gongo la Mboto to Kariakoo, is currently 62 percent complete. The project is expected to finish by March next year.
According to Mr Mbilinyi, the Phase III corridor will feature two mixed-traffic lanes, a bus depot at Gongo la Mboto, a bus terminal at Kariakoo, three feeder stations (Jet Club, Banana, and Buguruni – Rozana), thirty-two bus stations, and five pedestrian bridges.
Phase IV, spans 29.1km from Maktaba through Morocco, Mwenge, and Tegeta Dawasa, with a branch extending from Mwenge to the Ubungo interchange. The phase will feature four asphalt mixed-traffic lanes and two concrete BRT bus lanes.
Phase IV will also include five bridges, five bus terminals, 39 BRT bus stations, and 15 feeder bus stations. Current construction activities include bus stations, BRT lanes, bridges, and various roadworks, with progress between 12 and 14 percent complete, according to BRT.
