Why BRT is recipe for economic growth

ANTONY TAMBWE

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project

COMMUTERS plying in various corners of Dar es Salaam City as well as other parts in the

Coast Region are heading towards happy times ahead as the transit times are going to be short after completion of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) projects.

This was said in Dar es Salaam on Friday by Deputy Minister for Works and Transport, Engineer Godfrey Kasekenya after witnessing the signing of five contracts, which include four projects for the construction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Infrastructure in Dar es Salaam and one project for the construction of the TAMCO – Vikawe- Mapinga road to tarmac level.

And, because it is the dream of most Tanzanians to have quality roads, the deputy minister said signing of contracts for road projects should be conducted in public. He said that signing the contracts in offices denies the public the opportunity to celebrate and understand details of the deals.

The deputy minister said the fourth phase of BRT project is anticipated to be a world-class infrastructure that will generate enormous economic activity in and around the commercial capital, this is why, the government wants the project to be fast-tracked.

The four BRT contracts signed yesterday are worth 500bn/- and one contract for the construction of the TAMCO  – Vikawe – Mapinga road to  tarmac level, part of Pangani to Mapinga (13.59km), which will be built at a cost of 17.8bn/-, excluding value added tax (18 per cent VAT) of 3bn/-.

Eng Kasekenya said that for most Tanzanians, improved road systems spell hope for them because it translates to better transport services and ease in movement.

“The government has continued to walk the talk in undertaking infrastructural projects aiming at opening up the country and stimulating economic activities in the city of Dar es Salaam,” he said.

He said that the fourth phase of the project is part of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Infrastructure Construction Project designed by the government in 2004 under the Dar es Salaam City Council with the aim of reducing traffic congestion and increase productivity in economic activities by reducing travel time and costs.

“The first phase has been completed which involved the construction of BRT road infrastructure stretching 21.4 km from the City Centre to Kimara, with two branches of roads from Magomeni to Morocco and Fire to Kariakoo. This project was completed in 2016,” he said.

The deputy minister said that the second phase is the construction of the road infrastructure covering 20.3 km from the City Centre to Mbagala, where construction is still ongoing and is expected to be completed soon. The project is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in collaboration with the government of Tanzania.

He said that phase three is the construction of road infrastructure with a length of 23.33 km from the City Centre to Gongolamboto, adding that construction started in August, 2022 and is expected to be completed within 24 months. This project is funded by the Dar es Salaam Urban Transport Project (DUTP) programme.

“The fourth phase is the construction of road infrastructure covering 29.13 km which we are witnessing the signing today and it involves the road from the City Centre to Tegeta DAWASA, along with the stretch from Mwenge to Ubungo. This project is also funded by DUTP programme,” he said.

Mr Kasekenya said that the fifth phase is the construction of road infrastructure with a length of 27.6 km from Ubungo to the Port, along with a section of Tabata road from Segerea to Kigogo and a section of Mbagala Road.

He said that this project is funded by the French Development Agency in collaboration with the government of Tanzania.

Phase six, he said, is the construction of road infrastructure covering 26.5 km which will include the Mwai Kibaki road from Morocco to Kawe (7km), the road from Kimara to Kibamba (14 km) and Mbagala to Vikindu (5.5 km).

The deputy minister said that the purpose of the construction of the BRT infrastructure is to relieve citizens of the inconvenience of road transport, to get fast transport and reduce the cost of travel in order to increase the efficiency in the transport and transportation sector, thus promoting the economy of the people as well as the country.