News / National
Commuter omnibuses ban takes effect
02 Aug 2014 at 08:44hrs | Views
Commuter omnibuses plying the southwestern suburbs-city routes will on Monday start using the Coventry holding bay as Harare City Council steps up efforts to decongest the Central Business District.
The same applies to kombis using the north-western routes. There are no toilets at the holding bay. Drivers who resist the new arrangements face arrest.
The holding bay, which the city values at US$500 000, has been lying idle for the past year as council failed to move kombis there.
In a statement yesterday, Harare City Council said commuter omnibuses that pick and drop passengers at the Copacabana Terminus were obliged to use the new bays.
Radio systems would be used to control the movement of kombis between the holding bay and the rank.
"The Coventry Road Commuter Omnibus Holding Bay will be commissioned on 4 August, 2014," read the statement.
"Logistics for the successful implementation of using the holding bay have been put in place."
From the suburbs kombis will drop passengers at Copacabana and proceed to the holding bay from where they will be called to pick passengers to their various destinations.
Council said no passengers would be dropped or picked up from the holding bay.
"However, during the morning peak hour kombis can drop passengers and return to the residential suburbs to ferry more commuters," the statement said.
"A kombi coming from the holding bay to the bus rank will be issued with a ticket to be surrendered at the entrance. The ticket will bear the number plate of the kombi."
Only kombis with certified tickets would be allowed to pick up passengers.
Council said the holding bay and the Copacabana rank would be manned by the police.
"The two facilities are fitted with booms to regulate the movement of traffic," council said.
"The purpose of the holding bay is to ensure that no kombis park on the streets. The city council is actively engaging kombi operators to ensure adherence and acceptance."
Council said temporary toilets would be used while permanent structures were being constructed.
"Refuse bins have been provided while vendor activities will be strictly regulated," council said.
"The holding bay will assist in the partial decongestion of city roads. However, on their own they will not clear all the congestion in the city."
The city traffic system has been chaotic.
Kombis evading traffic and municipal police have at times caused fatal accidents.
Council said more holding bays would be built for commuter omnibuses servicing the Chitungwiza, southern and eastern suburbs.
"There is also the need to introduce a mass bus transit system and to gradually phase out the smaller commuter omnibuses," council said.
"Holding bays will not create problems. They are a solution in themselves. Members of the public are urged to shun kombi operators who use illegal pick-up and drop-off points because such spots endanger their lives."
The same applies to kombis using the north-western routes. There are no toilets at the holding bay. Drivers who resist the new arrangements face arrest.
The holding bay, which the city values at US$500 000, has been lying idle for the past year as council failed to move kombis there.
In a statement yesterday, Harare City Council said commuter omnibuses that pick and drop passengers at the Copacabana Terminus were obliged to use the new bays.
Radio systems would be used to control the movement of kombis between the holding bay and the rank.
"The Coventry Road Commuter Omnibus Holding Bay will be commissioned on 4 August, 2014," read the statement.
"Logistics for the successful implementation of using the holding bay have been put in place."
From the suburbs kombis will drop passengers at Copacabana and proceed to the holding bay from where they will be called to pick passengers to their various destinations.
Council said no passengers would be dropped or picked up from the holding bay.
"However, during the morning peak hour kombis can drop passengers and return to the residential suburbs to ferry more commuters," the statement said.
"A kombi coming from the holding bay to the bus rank will be issued with a ticket to be surrendered at the entrance. The ticket will bear the number plate of the kombi."
Only kombis with certified tickets would be allowed to pick up passengers.
Council said the holding bay and the Copacabana rank would be manned by the police.
"The two facilities are fitted with booms to regulate the movement of traffic," council said.
"The purpose of the holding bay is to ensure that no kombis park on the streets. The city council is actively engaging kombi operators to ensure adherence and acceptance."
Council said temporary toilets would be used while permanent structures were being constructed.
"Refuse bins have been provided while vendor activities will be strictly regulated," council said.
"The holding bay will assist in the partial decongestion of city roads. However, on their own they will not clear all the congestion in the city."
The city traffic system has been chaotic.
Kombis evading traffic and municipal police have at times caused fatal accidents.
Council said more holding bays would be built for commuter omnibuses servicing the Chitungwiza, southern and eastern suburbs.
"There is also the need to introduce a mass bus transit system and to gradually phase out the smaller commuter omnibuses," council said.
"Holding bays will not create problems. They are a solution in themselves. Members of the public are urged to shun kombi operators who use illegal pick-up and drop-off points because such spots endanger their lives."
Source - Herald
