The City of Kigali has designated new routes for public transport operators in the city, geared at easing movement to and from the city centre.

A statement released yesterday says effective next month, buses that ply Kabeza-Kanombe-City Centre and the Kimironko-City Centre routes will have to add a new route passing through Bank of Kigali-Inkuru Nziza-Kigali City Market-City Plaza-Simba Supermarket and down the main roundabout before heading to heir respective destinations.

The move, according Jean-Claude Rurangwa, the in charge of transport in City of Kigali, is to cater for downtown passengers.

The decision was approved during a Tuesday meeting that brought together City of Kigali officials, traffic inspectors as well as transport companies.

Since last year, public transport buses were barred from the commercial centre, commonly known as Quartier Matheus, for fear of increasing jam in downtown.

Needs of downtown passengers

Buses from Kimironko and Kanombe-Kabeza have been reaching the city via main roundabout-Institute of Statistics-Chuk-before returning to the main round about via Bank of Kigali and Union Trade Centre (UTC).

City officials say the changes were put in place after realising that downtown passengers were being ignored.

"We did a simple survey and realised that more than 80 per cent of the people boarding from Bank of Kigali and Institute of Statistics come from this side (Commercial district) and the surrounding areas;  they should not stress to reach their destinations,” Rurangwa said.

Innocent Nyandwi, a trader at Quartier Matheus, said the development was a welcome move.

"We are happy with the new development,” he said, adding that their customers used to incur extra Rwf500 to reach the nearest bus stop.

Another trader, Goretti Uwumukiza, said it was difficult to get around, especially when it is raining. 

The new changes could also see parking spots in the city centre reduced to cater for the buses that will only be allowed to drop and pick passengers to ease traffic flow.

Mini buses for Kibagabaga route

It was also decided that "given the increasing traffic jam” along the road Nyabugogo-Rwandex-Sonatubes-Remera, effective December 1, buses and mini buses to or from Eastern Province will no longer use this road.

They have to ply the road Nyabugogo-Kinamba-UTEXRWA-Kibagabaga-Kimironko-Kigali Parents and connect Kabuga via ‘Cumi na Kabili.’

This, however, does not apply to ‘Express’ buses.

There were mixed reactions on this directive. Some drivers said it is time-saving but others said it will deprive them of passengers along airport road.

The City authorities also directed the three transport companies to increase the number of buses during rush hours so that passengers do not spend more than five minutes at a bus stop.

The inspection team found that passengers spend an average of 15 minutes waiting for a bus.

Meanwhile, transport companies raised concerns over the December 15 deadline they were given to bring new buses, saying "shipping process is taking too long.”

Officials extended the deadline to December 31.

"We don’t expect any more excuses next year,” Rurangwa said.

With a shortage of 200 buses, the City expects 100 new buses early next year.

Under the new policy, the Kigali Bus Services (KBS), buses have been restricted to 60 passengers instead of the 80 they transport currently.