City launches new public transport system today

A new public transport system comes into force across the City of Kigali today. The move is backed by the City of Kigali and the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (Rura). This follows the signing of contracts between Rura, the City of Kigali and the three transport companies that won tenders to provide public transport in the city early this month.The firms are Royal Express Transport Company, Kigali Bus Service and the Rwanda Federation of Transport Co-operatives (RFTC). The companies will operate on four different zones, with Kigali Bus Service covering Zone I, Royal Express operating Zone II, while RFTC takes zones III and IV. The Central Business District is a neutral zone accessed by by all the public transport vehicles, city authorities said.Routes for Zone IZone I routes are Remera Taxi park-kuri 15-Ndera, Remera Taxi park-kuri 15-Murindi-Masaka and Masaka-Musaka Hospital-Gahoromani market-Kabuga Taxi Park. Others are Remera Taxi park-Sonatubes-Kicukiro Centre and Remera Taxi Park- Sonatubes-Rwandex-Gikondo (Nyenyeri)- Bwerankoli.Routes for Zone IIRoutes for Zone II are Saint Joseph-Kicukiro Centre de Sante- Sonatubes-Rwandex- Chez Rubangura-EWSA HQ, Saint Joseph-La Luna d’or- Kicukiro Centre-Zone Temple-Rwandex-Chez Rubangura- EWSA HQ, and Nyanza Taxi Park- Kicukiro centre- Gatenga- Magerwa-Chez Rubangura-EWASA HQ. Nyanza Taxi Park-Kicukiro centre- Zione Temple- Rwandex- Nyabugogo Taxi Park, Bwerankoli- Nyenyeri- SEGEM- Rugunga- ETO-Statistique, Bwerankoli- Nyenyeri-SEGEM- Kanogo-Nyabugogo, and Kicukiro centre-Sonatubes-Gishushu-Kacyiru Minisitere. Others include Kicukiro Centre-Nyanza-Karembure, Kicukiro Centre-Nyanza-Gahanga, Kicukiro Centre-Kagarama-Ku Muyange, and Kicukiro Centre-Gatenga-Magerwa-Nyenyeri-Bwerankoli.Routes for Zone IIIZone III routes are ETO-CHUK-BK-Kimihurura-RDB-Nyarutarama-Kagugu-FAWE-ULK- Kinamba-Muhima- ETO, Bumbogo (Azam roundabout)-Zindiro-Kimironko Taxi Park-Lando-Kimihurura-ETO-CHUK-BK, and ETO-Muhima-Kinamba-Gakinjiro-FAWE-Kagugu Primary School-Batsinda. Others are ETO-Kimihurura-KBC-Kacyiru Ministeres-Kacyiru sector office-Mama Sportif, and Nyabugogo Taxi Park-Kinamba-Kacyiru-Kimironko Taxi Park, Kimironko Taxi Park-Bibare-Prison Kimironko-Kimironko Taxi Park, and Kimironko Taxi Park-KIE-Bibare-Mushumba mwiza-Ku Cya Mitzig-Remera Taxi park- KIE-Kimironko Taxi Park.Kimironko Taxi park- Controle technique-Umudugudu Urwego-RDB, Kimironko Taxi park-Kibagabaga Hospital-Caima- Nyarutarama-Kabuga ka Nyarutarama-Junction Kinyinya, and Kibagabaga- Kibagabaga Hospital-Kimironko Taxi Park, and Bumbogo (Zindiro)-Rutunga.Zone IV routes Zone IV routes are CHUK-BK-ETO-Gakinjiro-Gitega-Biryogo-Rafiki-Ku rya Nyuma, Sulfo-ETO-Muhima-Nyabugogo-Kimisagara-Nyakabanda-Tapis Rouge, Sulfo-ETO-Muhima-Nyabugogo-Gatsata-Karuruma- Nyacyonga, Nyabugogo-Giticyinyoni-Runda, and Nyamirambo (ku rya nyuma)-kuri 40-Biryogo-Cercle sportif de Rugunga-Kanogo-Poids Lourd-Nyabugogo Taxi Park.Others include Nyamirambo-Rwarutabura-Mageragere, Nyacyonga- Rutunga, Karuruma-Gihogwe-Jali and Jabana-Nduba.The five-year contracts to operate the routes are renewable on satisfactory service delivery, city authorities said. The firms will be operating from 5am through 11pm, according to officials. The officials noted that the move aims at improving public transport in the city in accordance with the Public Transport Policy and Strategy for Rwanda.Fidele Ndayisaba, the City of Kigali mayor, challenged the new operators to serve according to public expectations and standards set by the city authority. “We would like to see a more organised public transport in the city and its suburbs. An organised public transport system provides safety and efficiency, which will expand business opportunities,” he said.State minister for infrastructure Alexis Nzahabwanimana said route allocation and bundling will reduce traffic congestion in the city while inspecting transport operators on Tuesday.

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City launches new public transport system today