The first city bus transportation service launched in Mekele, the capital of Tigray Regional State on June 8, 2015 with 14 million Birr cost, according to Addis Fortune.

Six buses were extended to the city administration from Bishoftu Automotive Industry (BAI).

The buses will be committed to six busy lines like Qeha, Arid, KelkelDebri and Lachi, according to Mehareai Gebrehiwot, Head of Mekele Zone Construction, Road and Transport Office.

Each bus can accommodate 90 people said Gebremichael Hailu, deputy head of the city’s Construction, Road & Transport Office.

The city bus transportation service is intended to solve the transportation challenge in the city due to large number of population, Tesfaye Gebrekiros, Head of Tigray Region Construction, Road & Transport Bureau.

At this time, there are 145,000 travelers in Mekele of which, 43,000 people use different public transportation means such as Bajajs, mini-buses and the like daily. There are 1,500 Bajajs, 560 taxis and 12 mini-buses in the city with the capacity of transporting 11,508 passengers at a time.

Mekele has become the third city in Ethiopia next to Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar to use publicly owned transportation facilities.

Source: Addis Fortune