KWT bus terminal construction work to kick off next month

CONSTRUCTION work at the King William’s Town market square bus terminal is expected to begin next month, with Buffalo City Metro saying their public transport facilities upgrade project was “progressing well”.

BCM’s multimillion-rand project was awarded in October and launched by mayor Xola Pakati in November in KWT, with transport operators and hawkers associations supporting the initiative.

Pakati told the attendees at the time that construction of the project would cost R81.4-million.

Since the project started last year, the metro has spent R16.5-million on it, and it is expected to be complete by June 2019.

During his state of the metro address earlier this year, Pakati said the upgrade had created 316 jobs.

In a progress report tabled before council recently, city manager Andile Sihlahla told the council that construction work had started at the taxi city taxi rank.

Some of the work completed included foundations, brickwork, plastering, electrical sleeves and roof trusses for four buildings in the area.

In a statement, Sihlahla said civil services for areas 1 and 2 of the rank were at “final layer level”.

“Work will start at the market square bus terminal in September, and on market square taxi rank in January 2018,” said Sihlahla.

“BCM has prioritised the upgrading and development of public transport facilities in KWT to provide for the current and future needs of public transport in this community.”

The affected areas include the three main municipal-owned public transport facilities within KWT’s central business district being the taxi city and market square taxi ranks and the market square terminus,” said Sihlahla.

“The improvement of these public transport facilities will provide commuters with better mobility, resulting in improved access to job opportunities, schools, and shops,” he added.

The metro has, however, rejected a plea from taxi operators for compensation by BCM while work is under way. Taxi operators claimed they were losing business earlier bus this year.

Sihlahla said the parties agreed BCM could not compensate the taxi owners, saying: “They were consulted and agreed on the refurbishment of the public transport facilities.”

BCM council chief whip Mzwandile Vaaiboom is, however, still pursuing the plea from taxi owners for BCM to relax with issuing fines while construction is taking place, as some taxis parked on the streets. —