A Property Watch survey of the area during peak hours during the past 72 hours since inauguration of the US$ 135m (about 297.7bn/-) bridge by President John Magufuli, has established that hundreds are ditching ferry boat rides in favour of commuter buses which unfortunately end hundreds of metres away from the bridge.
In random interviews, residents of the headland said the bridge is a big relief but Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra) should license commuter buses to serve across the bridge.
One of the residents, Gabriel Joel said right now the number of vehicles and people using the ferry boat to cross the Indian Ocean stretch separating the headland from mainland Dar es Salaam, has declined significantly.
“People who have cars are better off but most of us who depend on commuters, the burden is only partially addressed until when we have commuter buses serving between Kigamboni and the mainland,” Joel said.
Kigamboni residents were the happiest of the bridge, and more people from different areas across the city are visiting there to witness it and were happy to use such bridge as well as called the government to introduce a new bus route there.
Currently time spend at Kivukoni waiting for ferryboat for both people and vehicles has declined especially during the peak hours especially evening hours because of the new bridge,” he said.
A motorist, Irenei Kiria said the bridge is a big relief to many residents of the headland because waiting time for the ferry boat has significantly been reduced.
"It was about 27km drive this morning from my home to office, which took about an hour thanks to Nyerere Bridge, It used to take about three hours via the ferry," Kiria said. He seconded road foot users claims that commuter buses should be introduced as soon as possible.
Sumatra Corporate Communications Manager, David Mziray said the authority is already undertaking action to introduce commuter bus services across the bridge to ease people’s movement.
“Passenger buses will start soon, we are consulting with other relevant authorities including the bridge’s investors to see how we can decide on fare,” Mziray said while speaking to East Africa Radio’s morning talk show program o Wednesday.
He said because there is an element of motor vehicles paying a toll when crossing the bridge, it is important that Sumatra takes such a aspect into consideration when setting fares.
President John Magufuli urged relevant government agencies to quickly introduce commuter bus services across the bridge so that many people who don’t use private cars can easily travel between Kigamboni and mainland Dar es Salaam.
While pedestrians cross the bridge free of charge, motorists, cyclists and motorcyclists will pay a fee to help National Social Security Fund recoup its investment of 60 percent while government contributed 40 percent of the bill
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