The Transportation Office of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is partnering with the Agence France de Development to set up a rapid transit bus service. The city is to float an international tender for study of a pilot program.
The first line is expected to be Gofa Gabriel to General Wingate TVET School (12km) said Tiblets Asgedom, Head of the Transport Bureau of the Addis Ababa City Administration.
The project will commence after the study is completed according to Tiblets.
A joint committee, formed by the Addis Ababa Administration will select a company to carry out the study and another to realize the project she said.The transport office plans to set up similar projects in six corridors of the city after the pilot program is completed explained Tiblets.
In related news Alliance Transport Service S.C, Ethiopia signed an agreement for the import of 50 buses with Chinese manufacturer Xiamen King Long Automotive Industry. The deal was agreed for 72 million birr.
The agreement stipulated that parts of the bus including the engine will come from British company Kemens Engine with Xiamen handling the bodywork and assembly of the buses.
The buses, expected to arrive in three months, will have the capacity to seat up to 100 people offering modern conveniences and comfort to travelers according to officials from Alliance.
The import cost of the buses was funded through a loan from a local financier according to sources although officials from Alliance declined to corroborate.
Alliance has plans to import more buses in the near future according to the sources.
Source: Capital
