The advent of Dar es Salaam Rapid Transport (DART) project currently under implementation is going by large to reduce the congestion through construction of wider roads, special lanes for public transport and flyovers at critical junctions to unblock the traffic arteries of the city.
The city of Dar es Salaam has for so many years been affected by chronic traffic jams. This causes unnecessary delays in executing economic activities on daily basis for national development. The problem has started to bite leading to mitigation measures as aforesaid.
Much as there are more than 120000 private vehicles that operate on the city’s roads daily but can only carry about seven percent of the city’s dwellers.
These private vehicles rarely carry passengers at full load instead vehicles are only carrying their drivers and thus leaving more than 500,000 car seats unoccupied, in a study concluded. In contrast it has 12,000 public vehicle buses operating as commuter vehicles popularly known as ‘daladala’.
On rush hours either in the morning or evening, a journey of about 14 kilometers such as from Sinza to the city centre (Posta Mpya) can last up to two and half hours.
This can be torturous situation when the weather
is hot, when standing in a town bus that is fully packed and sandwiched between
sweat drenched passengers of different status.
According to a recent report, Tanzania loses up to 4bn/- daily amounting to 1.4trillion/- annually as a result of the traffic congestion.
The Chief Executive of DART Cosmas Takule says is reported by media to have said that after settling on the issue of compensation, the first phase project is set to proceeding without drawbacks as it had stalled for some years.
"The first phase alone involves construction of 29 ordinary bus stops, five bus terminals and two bus depots along the project corridor from Kivukoni to Kimara, which has already created many jobs in its initial stages", said Takule.
He said,”Once completed, more people will be employed as bus drivers, guards, ticketing officers and others who will be working in control centres as well as other ventures related to the project. He points out that the first phase of the project will cost 400bn/- and with the completion of the feasibility studies of Kilwa and Nyerere roads, the second phase starts automatically”.
It is alleged that until May this year, the government had already spent 11.5bn/- to compensate people whose property had to be demolished for the infrastructure of BRT and had set aside another 12.03bn/- to compensate more people.
Initially the DART project faced many resistances from residents and property owners, business operators at various sites and other transport operators in the city.
"It is best that you do not pay attention to what people have to say and do what you believe is right to avoid unnecessary disturbances in the future," says the Chairman of the Gerezani Residents' Committee, Rogert Kaniki who has commended the government for resolving the issue of compensation and called on others not to be duped into refusing the government's offer.
The loss from arriving late at work places and more time spent on the road is uneconomic.
“This is because people fail to reach at their particular destination on time, thus failing to conduct their day to day activities effectively,’ noted Mayor of Ilala Jerry Silaa .
A survey by the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) confirms that traffic jams are wasting up to 20 per cent of annual profits of most businesses.
While the problem of congestion affects all sectors of the economy, companies that deal with the supply of fast moving consumer goods such as beverages, edible oil, bread and other perishables constantly find it very difficult to punctually make deliveries incurring extra costs in the process.
As result the government through Dar es Salaam city council has for sometime tried to alleviate the problem of traffic jams through measures such as adding more road lanes, tarmac king feeder roads that run through neighborhoods .
Of all steps taken to reduce the problem of traffic congestion, the most profound solution that has been talked about by the government for so many years has been the construction of a Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit system (DART) that is currently being implemented.
DART is a public transportation system that uses rapid transit buses to provide faster, more efficient service within the city than an ordinary bus line.
Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling.
The goal of this system is to approach the service quality of rail transit while still enjoying the cost savings and flexibility of bus transit.
Indonesia is the country with the longest and widest rapid transit system in the world with 200 kilometers long covering six cities.
According to TANROADS the DART system being implemented in Tanzania will resemble that of Nigeria.
The project that is under the Primeminister’s office will be managed by the DART Agency on completion while the construction of the system is under Tanzania National Road Agency (TANROADS).
According to DART’s Director of Systems and Operations Eng. Enoch Kitandu, the system will have seven packages that will be implemented under four international companies.
The first package includes construction of 29 ordinary bus stations within road ways, five bus terminals, 2 bus depots along the project’s corridor and two pedestrian bridges at Ubungo, Kimara Mwisho and Morocco.
“The first package will be under a German firm Strabag International. “It will cover 20.9km along Morogoro road from Kimara to Kivukoni ferry including sections of Kawawa road,” says Kitandu.
“This will be the first phase costing 240,878,713,651/- scheduled to take six months in accordance to the contract with TANROASDS,” continues Kitandu.
He says the second, fourth, fifth and sixth packages will be under Beijing Engineering Construction Company of China.
These packages among other things will include the construction of the Ubungo Depot, feeder stations and up country bus terminal.
The third and seventh package is under the China Civil Engineering Company and Spencon Services Company Ltd respectively. These companies are charged with the tasks of constructing of Jangwani depot and relocation of power utilities.
“Until the end of the construction of all the packages the total cost will be 289.8bn/-,” says Kitandu.
He says Package 1 is at 10% completion while package two has not started at all; fourth package is at 80% while package six is at 30% and seventh package at 100% completion.
He says once in operation, the system will reduce traffic congestion by almost 60%. Still congestion will be there when the project is completed.
“In 2005 we carried out a study at Msimbazi valley area in the city and it was concluded that over 58% of the vehicles that were town buses (daladala). Thus when DART is fully functioning such buses will be displaced by the rapid transit buses.
“Many “daladalas” are micro buses. One rapid transit bus is equivalent to ten town buses in terms of capacity thus reducing vehicle congestion. These buses will be able to carry 140 to 150 passengers,” says the engineer.
Kitandu says the system will be very efficient as all rapid transit buses will have their own lanes thus will not be interfered by other vehicles.
“Current roads are not conducive for non-motorists but with the completion of the DART system such people will be traveling to their destinations without inconveniences by motorists,’ explains Kitandu.
He says although there no local contractors apart from one that is involved with electrification of the project, the completion of DART will lead to employment opportunities for more than 90000 local people.
“There will be 265 rapid transit buses this means that 265 drivers not including conductors.
“The government shall give tenders to local companies in areas such as ticketing, public car parks, cleaning companies and small businesses such as shops will be established along the DART route,” says Kitandu.
He adds that the construction of the project will ease the transportation of goods in and out of the country.
“We have been in discussion with the ministry of works to construct peripheral roads where heavy trucks from tankers to those carrying containers will be passing hence quickening the delivery of goods and services to their place of destination such as within East African region,” says the engineer.
According to TANROADS all these construction will be for only the first phase. Eng Kitandu asserts that the second phase will include the whole of Dar es Salaam. The first phase will begin operating by 2014.
TANROADS establishes that the completed network of roads will be composed of 137 kilometers, 18 terminals and 228 stations.
Eng. Kitandu would also like to assure the public that all necessary safety measures for using the new transport system have been considered.
“DART will ensure that pedestrian passes are constructed in crowded areas such as the Ubungo and Kariakoo and zebra crossings at various bus stops and terminals will be painted.
“The success of the DART system in Dar es Salaam will determine the implementation of the project in other cities such as Arusha and Mwanza in the future,” concludes Kitandu.
The project is the biggest single project involving the infrastructure of Dar es Salaam and thus its development is observed by many stakeholders.
According to a recent report, Tanzania loses up to 4bn/- daily amounting to 1.4trillion/- annually as a result of the traffic congestion.
The Chief Executive of DART Cosmas Takule says is reported by media to have said that after settling on the issue of compensation, the first phase project is set to proceeding without drawbacks as it had stalled for some years.
"The first phase alone involves construction of 29 ordinary bus stops, five bus terminals and two bus depots along the project corridor from Kivukoni to Kimara, which has already created many jobs in its initial stages", said Takule.
He said,”Once completed, more people will be employed as bus drivers, guards, ticketing officers and others who will be working in control centres as well as other ventures related to the project. He points out that the first phase of the project will cost 400bn/- and with the completion of the feasibility studies of Kilwa and Nyerere roads, the second phase starts automatically”.
It is alleged that until May this year, the government had already spent 11.5bn/- to compensate people whose property had to be demolished for the infrastructure of BRT and had set aside another 12.03bn/- to compensate more people.
Initially the DART project faced many resistances from residents and property owners, business operators at various sites and other transport operators in the city.
"It is best that you do not pay attention to what people have to say and do what you believe is right to avoid unnecessary disturbances in the future," says the Chairman of the Gerezani Residents' Committee, Rogert Kaniki who has commended the government for resolving the issue of compensation and called on others not to be duped into refusing the government's offer.
The loss from arriving late at work places and more time spent on the road is uneconomic.
“This is because people fail to reach at their particular destination on time, thus failing to conduct their day to day activities effectively,’ noted Mayor of Ilala Jerry Silaa .
A survey by the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) confirms that traffic jams are wasting up to 20 per cent of annual profits of most businesses.
While the problem of congestion affects all sectors of the economy, companies that deal with the supply of fast moving consumer goods such as beverages, edible oil, bread and other perishables constantly find it very difficult to punctually make deliveries incurring extra costs in the process.
As result the government through Dar es Salaam city council has for sometime tried to alleviate the problem of traffic jams through measures such as adding more road lanes, tarmac king feeder roads that run through neighborhoods .
Of all steps taken to reduce the problem of traffic congestion, the most profound solution that has been talked about by the government for so many years has been the construction of a Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit system (DART) that is currently being implemented.
DART is a public transportation system that uses rapid transit buses to provide faster, more efficient service within the city than an ordinary bus line.
Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling.
The goal of this system is to approach the service quality of rail transit while still enjoying the cost savings and flexibility of bus transit.
Indonesia is the country with the longest and widest rapid transit system in the world with 200 kilometers long covering six cities.
According to TANROADS the DART system being implemented in Tanzania will resemble that of Nigeria.
The project that is under the Primeminister’s office will be managed by the DART Agency on completion while the construction of the system is under Tanzania National Road Agency (TANROADS).
According to DART’s Director of Systems and Operations Eng. Enoch Kitandu, the system will have seven packages that will be implemented under four international companies.
The first package includes construction of 29 ordinary bus stations within road ways, five bus terminals, 2 bus depots along the project’s corridor and two pedestrian bridges at Ubungo, Kimara Mwisho and Morocco.
“The first package will be under a German firm Strabag International. “It will cover 20.9km along Morogoro road from Kimara to Kivukoni ferry including sections of Kawawa road,” says Kitandu.
“This will be the first phase costing 240,878,713,651/- scheduled to take six months in accordance to the contract with TANROASDS,” continues Kitandu.
He says the second, fourth, fifth and sixth packages will be under Beijing Engineering Construction Company of China.
These packages among other things will include the construction of the Ubungo Depot, feeder stations and up country bus terminal.
The third and seventh package is under the China Civil Engineering Company and Spencon Services Company Ltd respectively. These companies are charged with the tasks of constructing of Jangwani depot and relocation of power utilities.
“Until the end of the construction of all the packages the total cost will be 289.8bn/-,” says Kitandu.
He says Package 1 is at 10% completion while package two has not started at all; fourth package is at 80% while package six is at 30% and seventh package at 100% completion.
He says once in operation, the system will reduce traffic congestion by almost 60%. Still congestion will be there when the project is completed.
“In 2005 we carried out a study at Msimbazi valley area in the city and it was concluded that over 58% of the vehicles that were town buses (daladala). Thus when DART is fully functioning such buses will be displaced by the rapid transit buses.
“Many “daladalas” are micro buses. One rapid transit bus is equivalent to ten town buses in terms of capacity thus reducing vehicle congestion. These buses will be able to carry 140 to 150 passengers,” says the engineer.
Kitandu says the system will be very efficient as all rapid transit buses will have their own lanes thus will not be interfered by other vehicles.
“Current roads are not conducive for non-motorists but with the completion of the DART system such people will be traveling to their destinations without inconveniences by motorists,’ explains Kitandu.
He says although there no local contractors apart from one that is involved with electrification of the project, the completion of DART will lead to employment opportunities for more than 90000 local people.
“There will be 265 rapid transit buses this means that 265 drivers not including conductors.
“The government shall give tenders to local companies in areas such as ticketing, public car parks, cleaning companies and small businesses such as shops will be established along the DART route,” says Kitandu.
He adds that the construction of the project will ease the transportation of goods in and out of the country.
“We have been in discussion with the ministry of works to construct peripheral roads where heavy trucks from tankers to those carrying containers will be passing hence quickening the delivery of goods and services to their place of destination such as within East African region,” says the engineer.
According to TANROADS all these construction will be for only the first phase. Eng Kitandu asserts that the second phase will include the whole of Dar es Salaam. The first phase will begin operating by 2014.
TANROADS establishes that the completed network of roads will be composed of 137 kilometers, 18 terminals and 228 stations.
Eng. Kitandu would also like to assure the public that all necessary safety measures for using the new transport system have been considered.
“DART will ensure that pedestrian passes are constructed in crowded areas such as the Ubungo and Kariakoo and zebra crossings at various bus stops and terminals will be painted.
“The success of the DART system in Dar es Salaam will determine the implementation of the project in other cities such as Arusha and Mwanza in the future,” concludes Kitandu.
The project is the biggest single project involving the infrastructure of Dar es Salaam and thus its development is observed by many stakeholders.
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