Africa-Press – Botswana. A study will be carried out to come up with strategies on how the Molepolole Bus Rank could be put to full use.
Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Talita Monnakgotla admitted that the bus rank was not optimally utilised due to non-compliance by buses and taxis to use the facility.
She said the facility was opened in 2017.
“The study will come up with strategies and action plan for effective use of the bus rank,” she said.
Ms Monnakgotla also said as an immediate intervention, the ministry would hold consultations with relevant stakeholders such as the Department of Road, Transport and Safety as well as law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance to the law by bus and mini bus operators.
She said that would entail calling for them to pick and drop passengers at the bus rank only, as opposed to picking them from different points along the road.
Ms Monnakgotla also told Parliament that proper consultations took place before the bus rank was constructed.
“I can confirm that there was stakeholder consultation regarding the possible location of the new bus rank.
The initially preferred location by then was the old site around existing shops in Borakalalo that was informally used by buses and taxis as a bus rank.
However, this site could not be utilised for the said project since it was designated in the Molepolole Development Plan as a parking lot for the shops that were already developed,” she said.
She said the choice of the current site was influenced by its availability and size given that it was spacious to accommodate all proposed developments in the area.
She also said the facility required minor maintenance, including plumbing work to the market stalls
Molepolole North MP, Mr Oabile Regoeng had asked the minister to state the plan and strategy that could help activate the optimal utilisation of Molepolole Bus Rank.
He also asked the minister to state if there was a comprehensive assessment and consultation with relevant stakeholders to determine the strategic location of the bus rank.
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