Tanzania team to check out BRTS

A five-member team from Tanzania will get a firsthand look at the ongoing Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project in the city.

The team is on a study tour in preparation for launching Dar Rapid Transit (DART), a similar system in East Africa. The DART team has already taken a look at successfully running BRTS projects in Bogota and Curitiba.

DART is the government authority of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania that will oversee the bus system for the city having around 3.5 million residents.

The delegation will be headed by regional commissioner of Dar es Salaam William Lukuvi. The team includes permanent secretary, ministry of infrastructure and development, Omar Chambo and DART chief executive Cosmas Takule, director of systems and operations Enoch Kitandu and director of transport Asteria Mlambo.

Says municipal commissioner IP Gautam, "We receive one or two requests from different state governments in the country and abroad to see our BRTS project.

" A robust urban transport system has gained in importance for proper development and management of traffic in cities across the globe, he adds.

BRTS system ensures dedicated bus corridors, physically segregated lanes, pre-paid ticketing system and level boarding, among other facilities.

Msomaji