• Creation of transport board on the cards

PARLIAMENT – The long standing problem of the deplorable state of transport in Kigali could see possible solutions through the imminent creation of the Rwanda Transport Board (RTB).

Members of the lower chamber of Parliament yesterday seemed concerned as they enthusiastically listened to Infrastructure Minister Linda Bihire who spent the afternoon in the house presenting a draft bill establishing the board.

This was on the first day of the parliamentary business for their second ordinary session.

"RTB aims at improving infrastructure development in the transport sector,” Bihire told lawmakers.

Contrary to the current trend of merging agencies into single boards, she explained that existing transport agencies will continue as service providers while RTB will specifically deal with improving transport infrastructural facilities.

ONATRACOM (National Transport and Communication Organisation), RWANDAIR and RCAA (Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority) are among state-owned transport agencies.

Bihire elaborated that the board will be composed of directors dealing with specific issues regarding road, air, water and rail transport.

But MPs raised more concerns over the current state of transport, describing the situation as deplorable and calling for tough measures to solve the chaos.

"It’s a pity when you look at the chaos in parking all over the country,” lamented MP Gideon Kayinamura, noting that traffic congestion was a result of the disorder.

Other parliamentarians questioned the promises of a railway project that would help the country to be open to the rest of the world, only to be told that the feasibility study was still underway.

Establishing RTB was also cited as another step of integration into the five-country bloc of East African, where transport sector is controlled through such boards.

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