LATRA issues special permits for festive season
AS part of efforts to mitigate transport challenges during the festive season, Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) has allowed some upcountry passenger buses to increase frequencies of their trips in regions facing transport woes.
In addition, the regulator has issued 349 special permits to minibuses for hire to people who wish to travel in groups to upcountry regions.
Principal LATRA official at Magufuli Bus Terminal in Dar es Salaam, Mr Eyudi Nzuki, mentioned some of the routes where the frequencies have been increased as Arusha, Bukoba, Mwanza and Mbeya from Dar es Salaam.
The official also mentioned some of the companies whose buses have increased their trips as Abood, Allys, among others.
“LATRA has ensured that all the buses which have been allowed to increase their trips are safe and have been fitted with speed governors. In collaboration with the police force, we also ensure that the vehicles are frequently inspected,” he explained.
In a related development, Mr Nzuki said the regulator has issued a total of 452 special permits in various regions to meet the increased demand of transport services during the festive season.
According to the official, 103 special permits have been issued to buses with a capacity to carry more than 42 passengers.
The remaining 349 permits are for minibuses which could be hired by people who wish to travel to areas with high demand of transport services, he explained.
Mr Nzuki explained further that the authority has undertaken a number of efforts to address hurdles which are normally experienced by passengers wishing to travel to upcountry regions during the festive season.
“Passengers should purchase their tickets at offices of respective bus companies and avoid booking the same outside bus terminals where they could be conned by middlemen,” he advised.
However, some of the passengers who were interviewed decried what they described as artificial shortage of seats in buses being created by middlemen in collaboration with bus conductors.
“You may be told that the seats for that particular day are full, but the same people will lure you to part with between 40,000/- and 45,000/- for a trip from Dar es Salaam to Kilimanjaro and Arusha which is usually charged at an average of 37,000/-,” one of the bus touts at the terminal stated.
On the other hand, the Treasurer of Tanzania Bus Owners Association (TABOA), Mr Issa Nkya, has called on the media to continue sensitising the public on the importance of purchasing their tickets from offices of respective bus companies to avoid middlemen.
