The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), a project aimed at transforming transport in Nairobi by introducing high capacity buses with dedicated lanes, is now discernible on Thika Highway.
And Charles Hinga, the Principal Secretary (PS) in the State Department of Housing and Urban Development, has expressed optimism with the project.
“We are making good progress. The fabrication of stations is ongoing, and park ‘n’ ride facilities, bus depots, a command centre are all under construction”, he said.
He added that work on pick-up and drop-off points is also in progress to pave way for high-capacity express buses that will use the inner lanes on both sides of the dual carriageway.
The stations have been designed in such a way that entry and exit from the stations are through the footbridge, which means passengers will not have to worry about crossing lanes. The plan also leaves little room for commuters to slip or sneak through motorways.
“The stations have taken care of everyone. There is a ramp to get to the top of the footbridge and a special lift to take wheelchairs down or up the station. In other words, there is universal access,” said Mr Hinga.
He also confirmed that the BRT system will be operated by the private sector, not the government.
Earlier, there was skepticism among the general public after the inner lanes on the existing highway were marked as reserved for BRT with stakeholders questioning the practicality of the project. It was not until a few months ago when work began on the median that hope was restored.
