Africa-Press – Tanzania. Plans are underway to transform Dares Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) terminals by introducing trade faculties and recreational areas.
The project is financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and its implementation, if current talks go well, will start in the next three years.
The project, Transit Oriented Development (TOD), aimed at increasing the use of the BRT trunk corridors to make passengers flexible and comfortable while using modern transportation.
The TOD Project Director, Dr Edwin Mhede, said the plan is to introduce shopping malls and hotels in BRT infrastructures with maple space such as Gerezani terminal and others, which are currently under construction.
“TOD aimed to make Dar es Salaam more lively and liveable by taking its advantage of social and business activities around BRT corridors and terminals since are used by many people,” Dr Mhede said recently.
The creation of kiosks and shops are planned to benefit people from all walks of life including petty traders.
Dr Mhede, who also doubles as the Chief Executive of the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit Agency (DART), was speaking with daily news at the sideline of TOD Joint Coordinating Committee held at the University of Dar es Salaam.
The actual costs of the project, according to TOD Director, will be known once the suggestion of items under the project is determined at the end of the discussions and some study tours in the next six months.
“Also, discussions are underway on how to link terminal three of Julius Nyerere International Airport with BRT systems,” he said.
Meanwhile, DART is in the process of introducing smart cards, which will not only be used to access BRT buses but also for other services like paying the entrance fee at the Saba Saba trade fair grounds.
Dar’s BRT system began operations in 2016 where phase one—Kimara to Gerazani and Kivukoni route designed to carry 300,000 commuters daily along 29 stations.
The second phase of 20.3 km will commence at Gerezani and City Council BRT station covering Kilwa Road to Mbagala via Chang’ombe Road, Kawawa Road, Gerezani Street, Sokoine Drive and Bandari Road. The project is expected to go into operation early next year.
The 130 kilometres transit system consists of six phases and planned to cover over 90 per cent of the city’s population.
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