The City of Kigali is in the final stages of demarcating routes for new passenger service buses managed by Bus Rapid Transits (BRT).

The articulate buses, each with a capacity of more than 100 passengers, will have exclusive routes.

The project seeks to provide a sustainable solution to the public transport problem that has for years dogged the city.

The City vice mayor for economic affairs, Alphonse Nzeyimana, told The New Times that the 10-year project is expected to cost more than $2.5 billion (about Rwf1.8 trillion).

The 160-kilometre road network is expected to have a width of 36 metres (including boundaries) and will start from Nyabugogo and link the city hub to different areas by five main arteries.

The first route will go through Nyabugogo-Yamaha-Downtown Kigali-Nyamirambo.

From Kwa Mutangana (Nyabugogo), another route will pass below the Traffic Police headquarters, then Muhima below Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) headquarters, Rwandex-Zion Temple and connect to Kicukiro centre.

The third route will link Nyabugogo to Kigali Independent University via Kinamba, through Fawe Girls’ School Gisozi toward its Kagugu terminus.

Passengers plying Nyabugogo-Zindiro road in Kimironko, and even those going further to Kabuga, will use the lane Kinamba-Kacyiru-Chez Lando and will reach Kimironko via Prince House and Centre Christus-Remera.

This route will continue up to Zindiro, Ndera and Rusororo.

From Chez Lando, the route to Masaka will go through Sonatube-Niboye-Rubirizi and Busanza. 

Planning ahead

Asked whether the money is already available for such a costly project, Nzeyimana said, "the money should not be a problem; the initial step for a project entails planning, followed by fund mobilisation.”

The city is planning to start expropriation next year.

"We will start expropriation as soon as possible to avoid further development on the demarcated area which may cost us a lot,” he said.

Among those expected to be expropriated is Etienne Nizeyimana, 40, from Kanombe Sector.

The road will pass through his two houses, and a banana plantation.

"These are development activities. When they start construction, I will use the expropriation funds to build a new house nearby, since I still have more land here,” Nizeyimana said.

"There is always a price to pay for development. It will not be easy for us to acquire a new land, where we will not be able to do our farming activities,” said Olive Mujawamariya, another resident from Busanza, whose property will be affected by BRT.

According to Eng. Eric Bizimungu, a technician of Nyarugenge General Trading, the firm contracted to conduct the surveying, in some areas, the routes affect storey buildings and public offices, like the Kicukiro-based Rwanda Bureau of Standards.