LETTERS: City of Kigali has plans to address traffic jam

Editor, RE: “The nuisance of Kigali traffic jam” (The New Times, September 2). I thank Mr. KImanuka for raising the issue of the increasing menace of traffic jams in Kigali, albeit being less severe compared to other developing cities. The City of Kigali is committed to finding sustainable solutions to traffic congestion and that’s what informs our plans for the development of different roads in the city. For example, in the last five years we have constructed over 100 km of paved roads in Kigali and these developments are driven by the need to decongest the main roads and make different parts of the city more accessible. This year, we also plan to start the expansion and upgrading of most of the roads mentioned in the article. Precisely, next month we intend to commence the development of over 54 km of urban roads. This will include the upgrading and expansion of some of the existing roads and construction of new bypass routes. These will include the expansion and upgrading to dual carriage: the route from city centre roundabout through Muhima, Nyabugogo to Gatsata; the road from Rwandex-Sonatubes-Prince House in Remera; and overlaying and replacing streetlights along Kanogo-Rwandex road. We also plan to construct Kimihurura road network which will include the following roads: Rwandex-Gishushu (dual carriage), Rwandex-Mu Myembe (dual carriage), Mu Myembe-Kimihurura (Primature) roundabout (dual carriage). In order to provide alternative roads which won’t necessitate motorists to drive through the city centre in order to access other parts of the city, the following roads will also be constructed: Nyamirambo-Rebero-Kicukiro (Nyanza), Nyamirambo-Cyumbati-Gikondo, Kagugu-Batsinda-Nyacyonga, down town-Yamaha (dual carriage), and Kimisange-Cyumbati. However, as mentioned in the article, the problem of traffic jams can’t only be solved through the construction or expansion of roads. In line with the national public transport policy, the City of Kigali in 2014 introduced reforms in public transport which included the streamlining of transport operators, expansion of public transport network to different suburbs and more recently the introduction of a cashless payment system in buses. As a City we believe that a diverse road network coupled with an efficient public transport system and more of non-motorized transport-walking and cycling will help Kigali get rid of traffic jams and we are heading there. Bruno Rangira,Communications Officer and City Spokesperson, City of Kigali

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LETTERS: City of Kigali has plans to address traffic jam