Dar’s BRT phase 2 done, but where are the buses?

Dar es Salaam. The year 2023 saw the government complete the construction of infrastructure for the second phase of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT 2), but city residents remain in limbo because they do not know when commuting operations will start on the lanes.

Available information shows that the $159.32 million (Sh285.1 billion) project, which is being implemented by China’s Sinahydro Construction Limited (SCL), has been completed by 98 percent, and it was expected to be handed over to the government in October this year (2023).

Tanzania Road Agency (Tanroads) project manager for BRT, Mr Barakael Mmari, told The Citizen on December 12, 2023, that BRT phase II was almost finalised; the only pending issue was the installation of traffic lights.

“The contractor delayed ordering traffic lights, but once they [the lights] arrive and get installed, we will start to monitor their efficiency in controlling and the movement of vehicles,” he said, noting however that the monitoring process will not take long.

Mr Mmari, however, noted that, based on the current state of the infrastructure for the BRT 2, preparations for the start of services on the lanes could have started if the procurement of the buses were to be done.

“It is, however, not within my mandate to know when the buses are coming,” he said.

Dart’s acting transport planning manager, Mohamed Kuganda, told The Citizen recently [on December 14, 2023] that the process for acquiring the buses was currently at the ministerial level. It is at the level of the ministry that Dart will get guidance on the tendering process.

“In the first place, we announce a tender to allow qualified investors to apply for the procurement process of BRT buses, and if the investor wins the tender, it is when the buses will be acquired to enable the operation of BRT services,” he said.

The tender has not yet been floated. Efforts to reach President’s Office  Regional Administration and Local Government minister Mohamed Mchengerwa were futile.

Vandalism claims
In September, SCL’s safety officer, Mr Kichawele Mruma, was quoted as saying that the actual construction of infrastructure for the BRT 2 should have been completed in the first quarter of this year, but theft and vandalism delayed the project.

According to him, over 4,000 metres of electric wire and several metres of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes have been stolen.
Apart from theft and vandalism, other challenges that delayed the project were the invasion of petty traders into the project area, traffic congestion and unpredictable weather, which led to unexpected delays.

Also, perpetrators have been vandalising steel poles used for mounting lighting equipment, forcing the company to look for replacements, therefore delaying the activities in the process.

“Several cases have been filed in Temeke, Mbangala and Central Police Stations, but little progress has been made in the investigation,” he was quoted as saying in September.

In May, a Dar Rapid Transit (Dart) senior official said in Dodoma that BRT phase II would be inaugurated in December this year.

The BRT 2 involves the construction of 20.3 kilometres of exclusive lanes and Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) facilities along the Kilwa Road corridor and part of Kawawa Road to ease commuting in the commercial city. It is supposed to have 700 buses.

The use of CNG
Dart officials have been quoted as saying that the buses to ply the BRT lanes will be those that use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). This could be a deliberate move to reduce operation costs.  However, analysts remain sceptical, as the number of refuelling centres for CNG in Dar es Salaam still leaves a lot to be desired.

So far, there are only three CNG refuelling centres in Dar es Salaam, one is located at Ubungo on the Morogoro Road, one at Tazara along the Mandela Road and the third was launched in November 2023 and is located close to the airport area along Nyerere Road.

The number of vehicles that have converted to the use of CNG is on the rise as Tanzanians seek to cut the use of rising prices of petroleum products.

Queues have not been uncommon at the available CNG centres. Once the BRT 2 starts operating, it will have the capacity to transport an average of 600,000 to 700,000 passengers per day.

During this year’s Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DIFT), Dart designated 30 buses to operate from Gerezani to Mbagala. That was a deliberate move to curb transport chaos for residents wishing to visit the exhibition pavilions.

The provision of the BRT system is expected to directly enhance and improve traffic circulation and eliminate bottlenecks to traffic flow to various economic activity centres, such as industrial zones and the vastly populous residential areas of Temeke Municipality.
The proposed project would therefore have a positive impact on informal and formal businesses by providing them with improved accessibility and enhanced roadside air quality.

The BRT 1, which aimed at improving public transportation in Dar es Salaam by constructing a network of dedicated bus lanes, stations, and terminals, started operating in 2016.

It has been operating under interim since then by UDA Rapid Transit with only 270 buses, though it was supposed to operate with 305 buses. Not only that, so far, out of the current 270 buses, at least a total of 70 need to be fixed.

Following this, in October this year, Dar es Salaam regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila directed UDA Rapid Transit to repair the damaged buses to prevent commuters from being stranded.

“I have been told that 70 buses have broken down. I recommend that you fix the buses to alleviate commuter transit issues. I expect the problem to be resolved,” he said.

He also urged Dart to expedite the procurement of new buses.

The BRT is such a project. It was planned to improve urban transport by gradually replacing minibuses in the countryside.
Various challenges, like unclear construction and passengers’ protests about the delaying of buses at the BRT stations.