Council secures $10m to decongest CBD

HARARE has secured $10 million for the construction of bus terminuses and associated infrastructure as it seeks to decongest the central business district (CBD) and to address the vendor menace.

The city has identified three locations suitable for the construction of bus terminuses, although it will have to wait for the outcome of a court case to start construction on one of the sites.

According to the plans, Seke Dieppe Road Bus Terminus will cater for Mutare and Mutokobound buses, Rhodesville Bus Terminus will assume the functions of the existing Fourth Street and Charge Office terminuses, while Golden Quarry will be for Bulawayo-bound buses.

Environment Management Committee chairperson councillor Herbert Gomba yesterday confirmed the development, saying the funds were part of the city’s $30 million bank facility for capital projects.

“We have secured $10 million to build three bus terminuses in order to decongest the CBD and construct infrastructure for our vendors, the combination of the two will help to bring customers to the vendors and provide safekeeping facilities for them,” he said.

“This is a product of our consultations with vendors’ leadership; the idea is to come up with upmarket state-of-the-art bus terminals, which can be manned by information systems that will help to plug financial loses we witnessed at Mbare Musika where manual systems have failed,” he said.

According to a report by the city’s Director of Works (Mr Zvenyika Chawatama) to the Committee construction of Seke Dieppe, Rhodhesville and Golden Quarry bus Terminuses would cost an estimated $10 million.

“Seke Dieppe Bus Terminus is located at approximately 10 hectares of open space located at corner Seke Road and Dieppe Road. A car park and vending area is also accommodated within the project. The total cost is $4 million,” reads the report.

“Golden Quarry Bus Terminus is located at an approximately six hectares open space located at Golden Quarry Road.

“A car park and vending Area is also accommodated within the project. The total estimate cost is $3 million.”

Council hopes to get additional revenue from entry and parking fees.

“There is a provisional court order against Rhodesville Bus Terminus site stopping development progress pending final judgment. Construction will resume if judgment is in council’s favour.”

Vendors and pirate taxi operators are wreaking havoc in the country’s urban centres, especially in Harare’s central business district.