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Metro-Bus complements govt’s reform programme in the public transport sector – minister
12:59 CAT | 12 Oct 2017
The Minister of Transport and Communications said on Wednesday, 11 October, in Maputo, that the Metro-Bus integrated passenger transport project would improve urban mobility and make public transport safer.
Carlos Mesquita was speaking at Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM), where he witnessed the arrival of some of the four four-coach trains, 80 70-seat buses, 30 30-seat and three vehicles for people with physical disabilities.
After learning details of the equipment’s operations, the minister pronounced himself pleased, especially with the technical and structural condition of the vehicles.
Mesquita said Metro-Bus project would complement the government’s public transport sector reform programme and improve safety and conditions on the urban public transport.
“This is a very well designed and outlined project that will complement other government programmes, and involves the acquisition of 300 buses that will arrive in the country in the next six months, the first batch of 100 this year,” he said.
Regarding the implementation of the Metro-Bus programme, Carlos Mesquita said that everything depended on the completion of the logistics preparation phase, which could happen within the next 45 days, “so that operations start, it will be for good and with all due care”.
“The equipment is already on Mozambique railways, and Fleet Rail, the owner of the trains, is currently discussing aspects related to planning, schedules, train circulation, speeds to be used on roads, terminals, car parks, among others,” he explained.
The Metro-Bus project comprises three phases, the first of which, already underway, includes the arrival in Maputo of four trains, 16 coaches and more than 100 buses, and is scheduled for 15 December.
The second, which will run through to June next year, foresees the expansion of the project to Marracuene and Boane, and the third and last phase will be the arrival of Metro-Bus at the Goba and Ressano Garcia borders and Manhiça municipality.
Including the integrated passenger transport project implemented by Fleet Rail, it is expected that 3.6 million people will be transported by 2018. The project should reduce congestion on national roads EN1 and EN4 and reduce the number of road accidents as well as making public transport more efficient and safer.
Source: A Verdade
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