Nyerere Bridge in Dar raises Tshs 3bn in just 5 months

Photo taken on April 18, 2016 shows vehicles traveling on Nyerere Bridge Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Christian Gaya

Tanzania’s National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has been able to collect a total of Tshs. 3.0 billion from Nyerere Bridge just within five months and that the facility has been in operation and that all such collections are invested in the Government securities.

The new US$135-million bridge connecting Kigamboni and Kurasini in the east African nation’s commercial capital Dar es Salaam, has left an indelible mark to local and international engineers.

The project which was undertaken by China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG) in a joint venture with China Railway Major Bridge Group (CRMBG) was officially inaugurated by President John Magufuli on April 19 this year.

The 32-metre wide bridge has six lanes, three in each direction, and two pedestrians and other for pedal cyclists.

With a length of 680 meters, the structure is the longest cable-stayed bridge in East Africa whose construction commenced in February 2012 and was completed in January 2016.

The Nyerere Bridge which boosts the domestic tourism sector in the area, as it connects the nation’s largest metropolis Dar es Salaam and the satellite city of Kigamboni on the other side across Dar es Salaam Harbor.  The project was financed by NSSF and the Tanzanian Government at a cost of over US$135 million” a recently released report says

Stressing that Nyerere Bridge is the longest and one of its kinds in East and Central Africa, the report reveals that the facility is run as a toll bridge under Public and Private Partnership arrangements.

It is projected that, the bridge will open up new settlements in the envisaged Kigamboni City as well as fuel trade and other income generating activities with a view to bringing about positive economic change in the area-both at individual/household and national levels.

Report further states that NSSF is managing itself the bridge through toil fees that are charged to users of all types of vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles, push hand carts and bicycles.

Users pay specified fees accordingly, except pedestrians. There is on the bridge, a toll plaza for controlling and charging vehicles passing through. A total of 14 controlled lanes are in this area (seven for each of the two directions)” report states.

Currently the NSSF Kigamboni Bridge office has about 89 internal staff to manage and monitor the collections of the bridge and who are working in shifts to make sure this job is done efficiently to ensure to ensure the maximum returns on the investment.  

“For management of operation of the project, a total of seven buildings have been built adjacent to the toll plaza whose functions are Administration, Ambulance, Police and Fire Station” report explains.

Furthermore, report explains that it will also promote the establishment of a new city in Kigamboni which has a capacity to accommodate 1.2 million residents.

Kigamboni is expected to be the next tourist hub seeking to make longer the stay of international tourists in Dar Es Salaam that are currently using the city only as a gateway to other tourism destinations in Central Africa.

Known as the “South Beach Zone,” Kigamboni City hosts a number of high-class tourist accommodation and recreational facilities in its long beach stretch south of Dar Es Salaam City center.