The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), in collaboration with SCANIA bus manufacturers, has trained 41 drivers, including three females, to operate 60 buses provided by the Ministry of Transport to enhance public transportation in the metropolis.
In February, 2019, 19 drivers were trained, and an additional 22 in December, 2019 by SCANIA, manufacturers of the buses, bringing the total to 41, made up of 38 males and three females.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Osei Assibey Antwi, who disclosed this at the 1st Ordinary Meeting of the 1st Session of 8th Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly last Thursday, said processes are far advanced to have 20 more female drivers trained for the running of the buses, christened Adehyie buses, by the end of 2020.
He said the Bus Rapid Transit operations, which started with services for only commuters on the Ejisu-Central Business District stretch, have been extended to cover 11 intra-city routes, which include Kenyase, Abuakwa, Pakyi, Aputuogya, Barekese, Mamponteng, Apromoase, Deduako, Kodie and Sokoban.
The KMA boss announced that the Bus Rapid Transit had also commenced short-distance intercity services to Obuasi and Bibiani, and it renders services to commuters across the metropolis, schools, churches, social events and hospitals, and continues to provide services to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) by way of conveying health workers to and from their places of work as a result of the COVID-19.
The Mayor said the service is handy whenever first and second-cycle institutions are in the sporting season, as well as during other school engagements.
Mayor Osei Assibey Antwi indicated that the KMA intends to partner a third party in the management of the BRT service, for which the Ministry of Transport is developing a model to guide any such arrangement.
He said to enhance the operations, the KMA was looking for a permanent depot with workshop, fueling plant, and operational offices among others, where all the necessary facilities will be provided to enhance service quality and efficiency.
The KMA boss said feasibility studies on expanding services to cover the whole region to ease the commuting challenge faced by a lot of people have begun to ensure that public transport is safe, rapid and comfortable.
The post KMA boosts public transport in Kumasi Metropolis appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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