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Yet another promise on arrival of buses for Dar BRT
Buses operating on a bus rapid transit route in Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Another promise regarding the arrival of bus rapid transit buses for Dar es Salaam has been made - the third such announcement this year
Dar es Salaam. Another promise regarding the arrival of bus rapid transit (BRT) buses has been made, marking the third such announcement since the beginning of the year.
This time, the promise is that a total of 755 BRT buses are scheduled to arrive in the country between May and June 2025, with operations expected to begin along the Mbagala corridor.
The buses, which will run on compressed natural gas (CNG), are part of the BRT Phase II project. Three companies have been awarded the tender to provide transport services and procure the buses for the new phase.
“So, in short, the buses will come but I don’t know under which arrangement the buses will arrive because there are three different companies that will operate the BRT II and buses might come in phases,” according to the Dart’s Public Relations Manager, Mr William Gatambi. He also did not disclose the names of the companies involved.
This is the third time a promise has been made regarding the arrival of BRT Phase II buses since the completion of the construction of the lanes last year. The 20.3-kilometre lane running from Mbagala to Gerezani was built by China’s Sinohydro Construction Limited (SCL) at a cost of $159.32 million and has since been handed over to Dart.
Earlier this year, two other promises were made regarding the arrival of the buses.
Chief Government Spokesperson Gerson Msigwa in January confirmed that the private sector would be engaged in the procurement of the buses, with the first buses expected to arrive between February and March 2025. He also revealed that 177 buses would be supplied for the Kimara route, and 755 for the Mbagala route, with services to begin in March 2025.
Later in January, Dart CEO Mr Athuman Kihamia said that Tanzania was expecting 250 buses from China to begin operating in BRT Phase II. He said that the buses were in the final stages of preparation and would arrive within the next two to three months, ready for operation.
He also emphasised that the buses would be CNG-powered, contributing to the country’s commitment to reducing environmental pollution.
In addition to the buses, Dart is actively seeking investors to develop infrastructure around the BRT system. This includes securing space for parking three-wheeled motorcycles, private cars, and city buses (daladalas), as well as building commercial properties, restaurants, and retail shops.
Dart is also looking for investors to manage advertising, station naming, and branding at various BRT II stations, which include Rangitatu, Zakhem, Maturubai, Kizuiani, Mbagala Sabasaba, and several others.
