Travel
Monday, June 09, 2014
BY KENAN KALAGHO, EAST AFRICAN BUSINESS WEEK, KAMPALA, UGANDA
QUESTIONS : Prime Minister Pinda is swamped by journalists last week. PHOTO BY KENAN KALAGHO
DAR ES SALAAM - Tanzania is likely to see hotels and shopping malls investments along the Dar es salaam Rapid Bus Project (DART) project corridor which covers 20.9km in its first phase soon after it is completed in late 2015.
Speaking during the launch of the market consultation meeting for phase1 DART project last week, Tanzania Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said lack of wider roads in many cities in Africa including Tanzania has been a major hindrance to the city’s economic growth and development.
Pinda said the first phase of the project is expected to bring about a lot of development including job opportunities and innovation that will ensure that the adoption of smart card use is adopted.
He said the government in collaboration with Dars’ three city municipal will ensure that all the five phases commences soon after the completion of the first phase that would allow the country to have the best ever mode of infrastructure.
The project will see the construction of Bus Rapid transport (BRT) roads system in Dar es Salaam city in six phases with the first phase including the construction of Mbezi, south of Dar es Salaam to the city center at Kivukoni while branching at Magomeni to Morocco north of Kawawa road at a 3.8km distance all covering a 20.9 kilometers.
He said the total coverage of all the six phases of DART project would involve the construction of the city’s 130.3km distance that would give the city a new look, improve its economy, cure traffic congestion, and attract investments while also reducing the city’s pollution which is affecting public health.
“Inadequate urban planning, coupled with under-investment in road and other infrastructure has been a major hindrance to the growth of economy in the major cities including Dar es salaam which has a growth rate of 5.6% per annum reaching 4.3muillion according to 2012 population census,” Pinda said.
He said that the government saw a need to develop an alternative transport system in order to go hand in hand with the growing city population.
He said being the first such transport system to be developed in the East Africa region, the project is expected to offer huge investment opportunities along its corridors.
“We are anxious to see that this project is completed by the end of 2015, Pinda said. He said finding the right place for bus terminals had caused some delays.
