Africa-Press – Tanzania. THERE was a big relief for the Kigamboni residents in Dar es Salaam after President Samia Suluhu Hassan directed that charges on vehicles crossing Nyerere Bridge be reviewed.
Late last year, President Samia pledged to work on public outcry over high fees on vehicles and motorcycles using the Bridge.
The state-of-the-art Bridge which links Dar es Salaam city with Kigamboni was operational effective from May 2016.
Since then, the residents have been complaining over high fees, which are claimed to increase the cost of living for the Kigamboni residents.
In the course, President Samia responded to the concerns by ordering the review of the fees.
Speaking in a telephone interview with the ‘Daily News,’ on Sunday, Deputy Minister for Works and Transport (Works Sector), Eng Godfrey Kasekenya, confirmed that the charges have been reviewed.
Eng Kasekenya noted that the review was aimed at providing relief to the residents of Kigamboni as well as offering an alternative means of transport which will reduce congestion at the ferries.
“Majority of the people living in Kigamboni were forced to park their vehicles due to the charges, a factor that has pushed the government to review the prices, which will allow users to pay the tolls on daily, weekly and monthly basis,” said Eng Kasekenya.
Before new charges, for instance, a commuter bus was paying 5000/- to cross the bridge, meaning that if the commuter crosses 20 times a day it pays a total fee of 100,000/-, which is 3m/- per month.
A motorist with a saloon car was paying 1500/- to cross over, which means a resident who was crossing twice a day paid almost 100,000/- per month.
The high fees were impacting on costs of living in the district and forcing prices of goods to increase in comparison to other parts of the city. A statement issued on Sunday by the office of the Kigamboni Member of Parliament, Dr Faustine Ndugulile, indicated that the new charges have been effective from May 20, this year.
According to the statement, a user who will opt for the daily charges to move to and from Kigamboni will only be subjected to pay once for all his/ her trips per day. Besides, the weekly and monthly payments will be delayed for some time as the system goes through maintenance.
The indicative prices which have been outlined include motorcycles famously known as ‘bodaboda’ will be charged 300/- per trip and 500/- per day.
On a weekly basis the price is 2,000/- and 5,000/- per month.
However, the charges for a rickshaw per trip (500/-), daily (3,000/-), weekly (10,000/-) and 20,000/- on a monthly basis.
Likewise, small vehicles will be charged per trip (1,500/- ), daily (2,500/-), weekly (12,000/-) and 35,000/- monthly.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to President Samia for hearing and delivering on the public outcry on the high charges.
“I also applaud the Minister for Works and Transport Prof Makame Mbarawa and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youths, Employment & Persons with Disability) Prof Joyce Nda- lichako for their cooperation,” indicated the Statement.
The list also applauded Permanent Secretaries Aisha Amour and Prof Jamal Ka- tundu along with the Director General of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Masha Mshomba and the entire man- agement for according the issue the importance it deserved. Along with the accolades, the statement also pointed out that the residents of Kigamboni appealed to the government to completely waive the toll charges at the Nyerere Bridge.
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