NMS to evict matatus from city centre
By Moses Ngahu
The hassle and tussle of moving around Nairobi may soon be history as the much-awaited relocation of public service vehicles from the city centre is scheduled to begin next month.
The first affected matatus will be those plying the Ngong, Lang'at a and Argwings Kodhek routes, as well as long-distance matatus from the Mt. Kenya region. The move will see the matatus terminate their journey to Nairobi outside city centre.
“The operation will commence next as Green Park, Desai and Park Road Termini will be open for business before the end of April,” Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Transport and Public Work Director Engineer Micheal Ochieng started.
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File image of matatus at he Green Park Terminus during a previous test run. |Courtesy| The Standard|[/caption]
The Green Park terminal, which cost the taxpayers a whooping Ksh250 million to construct, is 98 per cent complete while the other two, which are fully designed for log distance matatus we completed almost a year earlier.
The two terminals will be able to hold up to 160 vehicles at any given time and is said to allow the processing of up to 600 vehicles per hour.
Green Park on the other hand is said to have a capacity to hold between 300 and 350 vehicles at any given time with a processing rate of 1,000 vehicles per hour and 20,000 vehicles a day. The terminal will be able to accommodate matatus from Ngong, Karen, Rongai, Kikuyu, Dagoretti, Kawangware, Kibra, Highrise, Ngumo, Langata, Nairobi West, Kaberia, Satellite and Kiserian.
City officials have already conducted three test runs in the terminal as a way to improve easy access and movement of the vehicles. Other termini that will accommodate other vehicles include Fig Tree, Muthurwa, Globe and Bumyala junction and Workshop Road.
Mr Ochieng added, “ The change we are making in terms of traffic to decongest Nairobi has been done in other parts of the world and we believe we must adopt the same. We must take lead in East Africa to show that we are able to manage public transportation.”
Green Park will be digitally controlled. Officials have since stated that touting will not be allowed with only three matatus per Sacco gaining entry at a given time and a maximum of 20 minutes per vehicle.
Commuters who wish not to walk to the city centre will have the opportunity to board the City Link Shuttle bus with the city allowing six buses to use the stage.
File image of matatus at he Green Park Terminus during a previous test run. |Courtesy| The Standard|[/caption]
The Green Park terminal, which cost the taxpayers a whooping Ksh250 million to construct, is 98 per cent complete while the other two, which are fully designed for log distance matatus we completed almost a year earlier.
The two terminals will be able to hold up to 160 vehicles at any given time and is said to allow the processing of up to 600 vehicles per hour.
Green Park on the other hand is said to have a capacity to hold between 300 and 350 vehicles at any given time with a processing rate of 1,000 vehicles per hour and 20,000 vehicles a day. The terminal will be able to accommodate matatus from Ngong, Karen, Rongai, Kikuyu, Dagoretti, Kawangware, Kibra, Highrise, Ngumo, Langata, Nairobi West, Kaberia, Satellite and Kiserian.
City officials have already conducted three test runs in the terminal as a way to improve easy access and movement of the vehicles. Other termini that will accommodate other vehicles include Fig Tree, Muthurwa, Globe and Bumyala junction and Workshop Road.
Mr Ochieng added, “ The change we are making in terms of traffic to decongest Nairobi has been done in other parts of the world and we believe we must adopt the same. We must take lead in East Africa to show that we are able to manage public transportation.”
Green Park will be digitally controlled. Officials have since stated that touting will not be allowed with only three matatus per Sacco gaining entry at a given time and a maximum of 20 minutes per vehicle.
Commuters who wish not to walk to the city centre will have the opportunity to board the City Link Shuttle bus with the city allowing six buses to use the stage. What's Your Reaction?
