President calls for safeguarding BRT infrastructure
DAE ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has urged Tanzanians, especially the youth, to protect Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) infrastructure, warning that vandalism will not be tolerated and that repairs are costly and disruptive.
Speaking yesterday at Mtoni kwa Aziz Ally in Dar es Salaam during the official launch of BRT Phase II joining the Kilwa–Chang’ombe and Sokoine–Kawawa routes, the President recalled the October 29 violence on the Kimara–City Centre corridor, when protesters set BRT infrastructure and buses on fire. She said the destruction forced commuters to pay more and endure longer journeys.
“I urge the youth of this country to jealously protect these infrastructures because they are key to our economy and development in general,” President Samia said.
The Phase II has been implemented by the government with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF) and Japan’s JICA.
Its inauguration was attended by AfDB President Dr Sidi Ould Tah, Japanese Ambassador Mikami Yoichi and other delegates.
President Samia said the new route marks another milestone in decongesting rapidly growing Dar es Salaam.
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Citing census and population estimates, she noted the city grew from 5.5 million in 2022 to over 6 million today, an annual increase of roughly 100,000 people.
“The BRT Phase II has helped facilitate smooth transportation services: citizens now spend approximately 30 minutes to reach the city centre compared to over one and a half hours before,” she said, adding that passenger numbers have risen from about 30,000 to more than 90,000.
“The more than three-fold increase in passengers also tells us that citizens have embraced this service, contributing to reduced traffic jams and vehicle congestion,” the President said.
President Samia directed the Ministry of Works to work with the Prime Minister’s Office—Regional Administration and Local Government and other authorities to expedite ongoing infrastructure projects, stressing that reliable infrastructure is essential to achieving the country’s Vision 2050 goals. “Make sure you supervise all contractors implementing the various projects to ensure they are timely completed,” she said.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office—Regional Administration and Local Government, Professor Riziki Shemdoe, described the BRT Phase II launch as a “major revolution” for commuters from Mbagala to the city centre and said the service has significantly eased perennial gridlocks. He noted that 60 rapid-transit buses are currently in operation and praised orderly boarding at BRT stations, contrasting it with earlier chaotic scenes of passengers scrambling onto buses.
The Kilwa Road corridor project is expected to benefit thousands of daily commuters and further increase the city’s public-transport capacity.
