PIC urges DART to extend services to Coast Region
THE Parliamentary Public Investment Committee (PIC) has asked the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit Agency (DART) to come up with plans of extending services to other areas in the Coast region.
This comes as DART plans to import 177 new buses which, together with the current 200 buses, will see the number of passengers served increasing to 500,000 per day from the current 200,000.
“DART should consider extending its service to Bagamoyo, Pugu, Kisarawe and other places in the Coast region where many people are travelling to and from the city centre on daily basis. This will easy city movement while minimizing congestion,” said Jerry Silaa, PIC Chairman.
He issued the directive when the committee members toured DART offices, including inspecting the progress of the ongoing construction of DART infrastructure in the city and how the agency carries out its operations.
Mr Silaa hailed DART for the commendable job being done in ferrying passengers.
He further said that it is high time the agency considered extending services to other cities and towns than remaining in the country’s commercial city alone.
“The good job done here should be taken to other towns like Dodoma, Mwanza, Arusha and the likes. Think of suggesting amendments to legal instruments governing your activities and PIC members are there to support you once such suggestions are presented to the Parliament,” he suggested.
On his part, DART Chief Executive Officer Dr Edwin Mhede told the MPs that Bus Rapid Transit recently experienced a hike of passengers, a situation that was caused by their creativity. He said addition of number of routes and buses, as per the directive of the sixth phase government, contributed to the increase in number of passengers served.
“By February 2022, the Bus Rapid Transit system has recorded an average of 180,971 passengers per day, compared to 117,065 passengers who used the transport mode the same period last year. We are grateful to the guidance of President Samia Suluhu Hassan for the milestone achieved, “he said.
Newly added routes include that of Kimara to Kibaha in the Coast region, Kimara to Mloganzila hospital and Kimara to Magufuli bus terminal.
