The government of Tanzania has begun the process of compensating people whose properties would be pulled down along the second phase of its BRT route. The project will involve the construction of 20.3 km of road infrastructure is set to begin before the end of this year.
According to reports the project will include two flyovers and 29 bus stations on Dar-es-Salaam’s Kilwa Road from Kariakoo to Mbagala.
Last month, Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit Agency (Dart) public relations manager William Gatambi told The Citizen that “The government has already disbursed TSh.34.1 billion to compensate 105 people.” According to Dr Gatambi, the government plans to begin construction immediately compensations have been finalized.
The bus rapid transit system which consists of six phases in total was initiated by government back in 2003 and work on the project began in April2012 by the Austrian construction company Strabag International GmbH. Phase one of the Dar-es-Salaam BRT system began operations in May 2016. The project enables commuters to connect from Dar’s central business district to the suburbs with ease.
The entire project envisions 130 km bus rapid transit was planned to cover over 90 per cent of the city’s population and the project was split into the various phases. A Chinese company is said to have won the contract for the construction of the second phase.
Neighbouring Kenya has also been striving to put together a BRT system for the traffic laden Nairobi. A recent effort to decongest the city by the governor drew public outcry by commuters causing the move to be suspended.
