Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra)
Sumatra’s Road Licensing and Monitoring Manager Leo Ngowi made the announcement at a recent workshop on Cable Cars–Sustainable Transport Option in Tanzania which was organised by Ardhi University in collaboration with the European Institute of Sustainable Transport.
Right now the tender is open to both local and international transport companies to be in line with the Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit system currently under construction in the city.
“To start with, the tender for Kilwa Road and Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road is still open since last advertised on March 22, last year,” he said.
Although seven transport firms across the country applied for the tender, but only two of them submitted the application forms which however did not meet the requirements.
As such, Sumatra is now looking for more firms that can invest in public transport sector because so far there is no successful bidder.
He said the authority is currently reviewing its tendering criteria so that it can get bidders who are competitive in the selected route.
“Our aim is to ensure that urban transport services are offered by private companies so that Sumatra can have effective and coordinated fleet management system, business entities capable of purchasing large capacity buses and creditworthy,” he said.
He explained: “Sumatra has decided to invite more companies because the previous tender advert did not yield any successful bidders and the current modus operandi poses difficulties in regulation and enforcement.”
During the implementation, the new system will be in line with BRT systems under DART-, individual bus operators have to be prepared to operate in a more organised manner.
Presently Sumatra is in preparation to meet with stakeholders in the transport sector to discuss various issues relating to transport so that they can cope with the speed of DART system as well as attract them to invest in the business.
A research on user-need-and-management of public transport services in Dar es Salaam carried out in 2011 by Sumatra indicates that presently most drivers preferred private companies to run urban transport business on assumptions that they would provide better packages, working conditions and improve discipline and compliance with rules and regulations to both drivers and owners.
“They preferred use of private companies because in terms of remunerations, drivers were not paid salaries and other benefits such as medical, house allowances and training,” the report said.
The study established that drivers paid themselves after covering operating costs and remitting daily targets to the bus owners.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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