Musanze district has opened a new taxi park worth Rwf1.5 billion for operation.

The taxi park, constructed by the Rwanda Federation of Transport Cooperative (RFTC), with support from Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), will accommodate vehicles mainly playing Kigali-Musanze-Rubavu route.

The Governor of Northern Province, Aime Bosenibamwe, hailed RFTC for constructing the park, which he said will address parking challenges.

He said before the park was constructed, transporters used to park along the street, in front of shops and other buildings, which posed insecurity.

"It is a great support, there shouldn’t be any more disorder in transport business transporters used to park wherever they wanted,” said Bosenibamwe.

He appealed to other members of the private sector to invest in other developmental activities in the district.

The taxi park has capacity to accommodate more than 500 vehicles, with a building to serve as offices, garage space, among others.

Col. Dodo Twahirwa, the president of RFTC, said the new taxi park would economically improve the cooperative income and offer jobs to many people.

"We are happy the cooperative will benefit from the taxi park as a business entity. Transporters now have where to park their vehicles safely. Besides, the taxi park helped people get construction jobs and others will also be employed in various ways,” said Col. Twahirwa.

He said RFTC plans to construct other taxi parks, one in Muhanga in Southern Province and another in Gicumbi District, Northern Province.

Both transport operators and passengers welcomed the taxi park launch, saying it would ease movement.

BRD promises

Benjamin Manzi, the in charge of investment department at BRD, said they were committed to lending money for infrastructure projects that have impact on the entire public.

Four transport agencies operate in Musanze Taxi Park namely Vurunga Express, Kigali Safari, Kigali Coach and Belvedere Lines.