The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (Rura) has revised downwards public transport fares in the country effective today.

Under the new rules, a public transport vehicle will charge Rwf18 per kilometre down from Rwf20 per kilometre, according to a statement released last evening.

The new tariff rates were reached at during a consultative meeting by Rura and public transport stakeholders on December 30, last year.

"Public transport tariff on a passenger travelling on Rwandan territory has been put on Rwf18 per kilometer…..new regulations will come into force effective 6, January,” the regulator said in the statement.

The new transport fares were agreed upon based on routes, traffic congestion on particular routes, status of the route upon which the public transport van is operating on, among others.

The new fares follow further reduction of fuel pump prices.

In less than 10 months, prices for diesel and petrol have gone down from Rwf1,030 per litre to Rwf895.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry predicted further reduction by the end of January.

However, the fares will see some route charges remain the same while others will reduce.

For instance, Remera-Sonatubes-Kicukiro centre route will cost Rwf100 down from Rwf200, while Ryanyuma- Rafiki - Camp Kigali - CHUK - BK QC - SULFO -Gakinjiro - Gitega (LOOP) route, commonly referred to as Nyamirambo route, will maintain Rwf150.

Different transport operators welcomed the move.

Col. (Rtd) Ludovic Twahirwa Dodo, the chairperson of Rwanda Federation of Transport Cooperatives (RFTC), said: "We were consulted by Rura and are ready to implement new tariffs,” he said.

Other selected routes

Kanombe-Chez Lando-Kacyiru-Nyabugogo route: Rwf300Kabuga -Remera - Rwandex – Nyabugogo route: Rwf430Kanombe-Remera- Rwandex-CBD (or at Camellia Tea House in the city centre): Rwf250Kicukiro - Sonatubes -Remera - Kanombe route: Rwf200Remera-Mulindi-Masaka route: Rwf250Rubilizi-Chez Lando-Kacyiru-Nyabugogo route will Rwf300Kicukiro-Sonatubes-Stadium-Kimironko: Rwf200Bumbogo (Azam) - Kimironko - Chez Lando-Kimihurura- CBD: Rwf 200Bumbogo (Azam)-Kimironko - Chez Lando-Kacyiru –Nyabugogo:Rwf200Kimironko-Zindiro-Bumbogo (Azam) route: Rwf200

Upcountry selected routes

Kigali – Huye route will costRwf2,400Kigali - Gatuna route: Rwf1,400Kigali- Kagitumba:Rwf3,400Kigali – Musanze route :Rwf1,650Kigali-Nyagatare route: Rwf2, 900Kigali – Gashora route will cost Rwf1,100Kigali-Nyamagabe route will cost Rwf2,900Kigali - Rubavu route will cost Rwf2,900Kigali – Rusumo route will cost Rwf2,950Kigali - Rusizi route will cost Rwf5,000