The African Development Bank (AfDB) has recently approved a USD 428.43 million fund between loans and grants to finance projects in infrastructure, energy, water and sanitation, and transport in Tanzania and other seven countries in the Sub Saharan region.
Tanzania will be provided with two loans totaling USD 141.71 million from which USD 97.42 million has been awarded solely by the AfDB, and USD 44.29 million with the support of the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), a Chinese-led organization financing infrastructure projects in the continent.
The loans are meant to finance the Kilwa – Kawawa South Road Corridor which constitutes the second phase of the Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) and represent a total longitude of 19.3 km of dedicated road.
The project, part of the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART) system, is expected to be completed within the next 36 months and to carry up to 495,000 passengers per day once implemented, to reduce travel times and improve urban mobility and accessibility.
According to the AfDB, DART system is a solution to the current Dar es Salaam transport system which counts with 6,820 private transport companies representing 3,700 different owners in 362 licensed routes and that cannot offer a reliable, safe and efficient public transport.
DART system is also meant to meet future transport demand with Dar Es Salaam’s population, currently over 4.5 million people spread in a total area of 1,391 km, expected to reach the 11 million by the year 2025.
