Maputo, 18 Sep (AIM) – The Mozambican government on Thursday launched the construction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the Maputo Metropolitan Area, which covers Maputo city, the adjacent city of Matola and the neighboring districts of Boane and Marracuene.
The project, budgeted at 250 million US dollars, is funded by the World Bank. The Chinese firm CHICO (China Henan International Cooperation Group) will be responsible for building the facility, with completion scheduled for 2028.
According to the Minister of Transport and Logistics, João Matlombe, this project marks the start of a major urban mobility project for the capital region.
“There is already a contractor and the supervision team under contract, “creating the necessary conditions to begin this important journey, which will culminate by 2028 with the delivery of a modern, efficient, and transformative public transport system. We are not here to make promises. We are here to announce the good news”, he said.
The project’s initial phase consists of a 16.5-kilometer central corridor, supported by 46 kilometers of feeder and direct routes. Once operational, the system will move an estimated 125,000 passengers daily using 71 electric buses equipped with electronic ticketing and real-time tracking systems.
For his part, World Bank Country Division Director for Mozambique, Fily Sissoko, said that the practical success of the project relies on delivering reliable and affordable transit to everyday citizens.
Also addressing the event, Maputo Mayor Rasaque Manhique called for an organized and inclusive transition to ensure that current minibus operators and workers are integrated into the new mobility model.
“Modernizing does not mean excluding. It also means organizing, training, integrating, and creating better conditions for those who transport and, above all, for those who are transported.”
(AIM)
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