Tanzania: AfDB Gives U.S.$141 Million to Dar es Salaam Transit Plan

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st October 2015

On completion the project will give Tanzania's commercial capital the most efficient public transport system in the East African Community.

The AfDB Group Board of Directors recently approved loans of $97.42-million from the AfDB market window and the $44.29-million from the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF). The Bank's contribution to the project represents 88.9% of the total estimated cost of $159.32 million while the government will provide the remaining 11.1%.

BRT is a central to the government's efforts to decongest Dar es Salaam. The current public transport system is inadequate to provide reliable, safe and efficient public transport system for the estimated five million city inhabitants who generate about 60% of the countries' revenue. They also account for 70% of the city's public transport users.

The need for an improved public transport system has been a top priority for the government involving an overall plan for the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit system (DART System) and under which the BRT project phase 2 has been conceived.

The project, to be implemented within 36 months, is expected to improve urban mobility and accessibility in the city of Dar es Salaam through provision of enhanced transport facilities that are reliable, safe/efficient and cost-effective, thereby supporting economic and social development of the city and the country as a whole since Dar es Salaam city is a commercial hub for Tanzania and the East African region.

The project will also strengthen competitiveness of the city and boost tourism. It is expected to carry up to 495,000 passengers per day and reduce travel time. In addition, the use of modern BRT buses, which use cleaner fuels, will significantly reduce roadside concentration.