Ajabu Africa News

PHOTO:

One of the four commuter mass transit buses owned by the City Star Shuttle Bus Company that can carry more than 130 passengers. The firm plans to unveil the buses soon as part of efforts to decongest the city. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By:

LILLIAN MUTAVI

Posted:

Aug,19-2016 11:19:19

Traffic jams in Nairobi may soon be a thing of the past after the arrival of mass transit buses in the city on Thursday.

A test drive of the buses on Mombasa Road, through the city centre and to the Kencom bus terminus caused a stir among Nairobi residents, who marvelled at the especially long vehicles.

The buses are likely to boost hopes among commuters that a plan to introduce a mass rapid transportation system incorporating light railway and buses to decongest the city would soon become a reality.

City Shuttle is set to introduce mass transit buses in a bid to decongest Nairobi. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA

TruckMart East Africa Ltd sales executive Mehul Sachdev said four such buses with the capacity to ferry 120 passengers are available for sale.

He said the buses would help to decongest city roads since they are designed to carry both standing and seated passengers.

“One of these buses will remove four buses from the road and it will hence reduce traffic jams in the city as it is fitted to carry 62 sitting and 70 standing passengers,” said Mr Sachdev.

Inside one of the new City Shuttle mass transit buses set to be unveiled in a bid to decongest Nairobi. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

He said the government had taken long to improve the existing infrastructure so they decided to bring in the vehicles in a bid to put more pressure on officials.

Mr Sachdev said the company has started training drivers and once the vehicles are fully adapted they will open training schools.

City Shuttle directors told the Nation they will call a press conference next week to brief Nairobi residents on the new buses.

Source:

Nation