Construction of DART infrastructure to start soon

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Construction of the Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (DART) infrastructure from Kimara Mwisho in Kinondoni District to Kivukoni in Ilala District is set to begin later this week.

Speaking to ‘Daily News’ on Tuesday the DART, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Cosmas Takule, said the contractor has been assembling his  equipment and will begin construction work of the 20.9 km stretch. Mr Takule also noted that the second phase of the DART project has already begun with a detailed feasibility design of a 43 km Kilwa/Nyerere road at a cost of more than 1bn/-. The exercise will be completed in April, next year.

“Despite shortcomings we are facing, the project is on course we expect the contractor for the Kimara Mwisho to Kivukoni to begin construction work anytime,” he explained. The shortcomings include refusal to vacate the Gerezani area where a commuter bus stand is supposed to be constructed. People in the area went to court challenging the move, despite promises of compensations.

Ms Strabag International GmbH of Germany won the tender to construct the 20.9 km starting from Kimara Mwisho area to Magogoni. The government and the contractor late last year signed the contract for Ms Strabag International GmbH to start construction of the road at a cost of 240.9bn/-.

The CEO said the Kimara Mwisho to Kivukoni road which is expected to be completed in the next 24 months, will have two service roads for pedestrians and cyclists. “Once completed, the project will start to operate while other phases of the project are being completed,”  he said.

Mr Takule noted that if it were not for failure of the first tender in 2008, bureaucracy and refusal to relocate from areas meant for construction of commuter stands the project would have taken off in October 2010. “However by 2014 the project will take off. Once the Kimara Mwisho to Kivukoni road is completed, the project will begin, along side work on the other phases of the project,” he added.

The other phases of the project include the Kilwa/Nyerere road and Magomeni to Morocco road. He said four out of the six commuter stands are in various stages of completion. The remaining two; one in Urafiki area work has begun, while the one in Kariakoo, Gerezani area, is still awaiting court ruling.

The CEO said already 11bn/- has been paid out as compensations to people who have been relocated to pave way for the project.
He said other areas of the project including drivers’ uniforms, contracts, branding and type of buses and a mode of bus fare payment using smart cards have been completed. Those with disabilities have not been left out; the whole system will have facilities that will make their movement easier.

By ROSE ATHUMANI, Tanzania Daily News

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