No end in sight for Dart project

Section of the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit project infrastructure after completion at Manzese Tip Top in the city. The multi-million dollar project is marred with various challenges including vandalism which is threatening its timely completion. PHOTO | EMMANUEL HERMAN      

By Henry Mwangonde, The Citizen Correspondent

In Summary

If that is to happen, they are required to work day and night despite all the challenges surrounding the multi-million dollar project. 

Dar es Salaam. One big question now hangs in the minds of authorities managing the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (Dart) project -- will they be able to complete it in time to allow President Jakaya Kikwete to launch it before he leaves office come end of October?

If that is to happen, they are required to work day and night despite all the challenges surrounding the multi-million dollar project.

From the look of things the project won’t be complete by the scheduled time -- September -- due to various challenges including vandalism and delays in issuance of operation licences to bus operators who are yet to be identified.

During his inspection tour yesterday, the minister for Works, Dr John Magufuli, called upon STRABAG International GmbH, a German construction company contracted to develop the project to complete it in time.

The minister said the government was committed to decongesting Dar es Salaam, and the project was one of the strategies towards that end.

He said vandalism poses a threat to the life of the project. “This is our project and we are all entitled to protect it as the government has poured a lot of money and efforts into it,” he said.

The project was launched in 2010 and was expected to be completed by end of this year.

The project trials, known technically as interim operations, were expected to take off in April, but there are no rapid buses yet. Neither have operators been issued with the necessary licences. Dart is responsible for identifying, selecting and contracting private operators.

For his part, Tanzania National Roads Agency boss Patrick Mfugale said the first phase of the project has been completed and can be handed over to Dart anytime.

The first phase includes the construction of 20.9 kilometre roads from Kimara to Kivukoni and from Morroco to Magomeni.

“The only remaining side now is from Kamata to Kivukoni but the whole project is 75 per cent complete,” he said.