Makumbusho bus stop for face lift

Rapid improvements are expected at the Makumbusho Commuter Bus Station to reduce congestion and queues at the bus stop, it has been learnt.

Speaking with this reporter yesterday, an official of the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra), Conrad Shio said the situation can’t be left hanging for a long time, thus quick measures need to be taken to solve the current queuing problem at the bus stop.

The Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner promised back last year that the government will launch a road construction project to smoothen the flow of traffic along Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road which leads to the bus stop.

Regarding the complaints issued on the size of the station, he said the spot is twice the size of Mwenge commuter bus station and that the bus station can accommodate the flow of buses. 

The decision to close Mwenge commuter bus station has sparked anger and criticism among city residents and commuter bus operators who have raised concern that they were not sufficiently involved and the new destination is too small to accommodate the large number of buses.

  Rogat Bada, a bus driver (Makumbusho  Bagamoyo route) says passengers are forced to catch three to five buses to reach their destination, while the new main destination is too small, which makes the place congested.

He said the relevant authorities should review routes of buses so as to ease transportation for people of low income.

Meanwhile traders at Mwenge complained about conditions, saying there is little business there because buses are no longer passing through.

“This area used to be a business centre but now we have few customers, as they were mostly passengers who have now moved to Makumbusho,” says Khamis Mgeni, selling cosmetics. 

In Makumbusho, the development has attracted both new prospects and criticism. For business people it is good news, traders at the Makumbusho market are now assured of customers, as confirmed by Amina who is a food vendor at Makumbusho bus stop.

“I am very pleased by the shifting of the bus stop. My income has grown tremendously since customers are many from among bus drivers and conductors,” she said.

However some of the bus drivers have issued complains on the preparations done on the station, recommending that it be improvement rapidly by the municipality.

“The roads in and out of the station are not tarmac surfaces, not paved them or in good shape. It is difficult to get in and out of the station,” said Mr Ali Salum Abdallah, a bus driver for the Kunduchi -Makumbusho route.

However on another note he said they have not experienced difficulties in getting customers.

On Monday, the Mwenge bus stop was formally shut down to pave the way for the ongoing Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) construction, forcing commuters to board an extra bus or walk to Makumbusho to connect routes, close to half an hour of brisk walking.