Tanroads to receive BRT II infrastructure this month as final inspections underway

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) is expecting  to receive infrastructure for the second phase of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT II) after a Chinese contractor said the project was now 100 percent complete.

China’s Sinohydro Construction Limited (SCL) said the handing over of the project is expected this month and the responsible authorities were already invited for inspection.

“We have completed installing traffic lights on the road,” said the SCL project manager Yuan Rui said.

The infrastructure stretches between Mbagala Rangi Tatu area and Kariakoo in the city centre through the Kilwa Road. It also branches to Magomeni Mapipa via the Kawawa Road.

The BRT project manager, Mr Frank Mbilinyi, told The Citizen that the contractor will hand over the project to Tanroads after the consulting engineer has concluded inspection.

“It is part of the process for the consulting engineer to be satisfied with the work but we hope the project will be handed over before end of this month,” he said.

Regarding installation of ticketing and security systems in the BRT stations, Mr Mbilinyi said the job will be done by the service provider who will discharge duties under the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit Agency (Dart).

Dart's public relations manager, Mr William Gatambi, said the BRT II service provider’s procurement process was underway.

“I can’t comment on the development at this juncture because the process to pick the service provider hasn’t been finalised,” he said.

“The installation of ticketing and security equipment is also related to the procurement process; therefore, it is inappropriate to comment at this stage because of the competition awaiting the applicants,” added Mr Gatambi.

However, he expressed optimism that the deadline for BRT buses slated for December this year will be met.

On August 29, 2024, the CCM secretary for ideology, publicity, and training, Mr Amos Makalla, told a rally in Mbagala Kizuiani, Temeke District that over 200 BRT buses will start operating on the Mbagala route in December.

"The construction of the BRT infrastructure was completed some time ago when I was the regional commissioner here in Dar es Salaam.

As the party spokesperson, I have made follow-ups and received reports confirming that the procurement of the 200 buses is in its final stages," Mr Makalla told a well-attended rally.

The Citizen’s sister newspaper, Mwananchi, contacted Mr Athuman Kihamia, the Dart CEO, who confirmed that Mr Makalla's statement is a government directive.

"As a senior CCM leader, Mr Makalla's statement reflects government policy. I wouldn’t affirm something that doesn’t exist," Mr Kihamia said.

Hand-over process

Unveiling the handover process, Mr Mbilinyi said the contractor reports to the project consulting engineer once the project execution has been concluded to be granted the completion certificate.

“Once the consultant engineer is satisfied, the certificate is issued to the contractor. However, the project consultant cannot issue the certificate before thoroughly inspecting the project,” he said by phone.

He acknowledged that installation of traffic lights was the only job that remained on the checklist.

“To ensure everything was in place, including the efficient working of traffic lights, the consulting engineer has to inspect the infrastructure and get satisfied with functionality before providing the document,” he said.

He said the consulting engineer was the one who would communicate the project development to Tanroads for the handover process to take place.

What the contractor says

Mr Yuan said petty traders operating within the road’s infrastructure remained a huge challenge during the project implementation.

“They led to environmental degradation, particularly water retention and poor sewerage management especially during the rainy season,” he said.

The SCL BRT II head of the construction engineering team, Mr Lee Shuai, commended the cooperation received from the construction team ranging from office administrators to on-site workers.

“They are instrumental to the achievement we have recorded. They enabled us to meet the project standards,” he said.

He said the majority of them are locals who joined the team without any work experience, noting that the project execution has given them valuable skills enough to work efficiently and provide high-quality results.