admin
Municipal Reporter
Harare City Council has introduced dedicated bus lanes in the Central Business District in a move aimed at reducing traffic congestion especially during peak hours.
This comes as Cabinet has set up an inter-ministerial committee to tackle the congestion on many city roads following the economic upturn and to work out how street lighting can be put back in place.
Harare City Council has since said motorists that would encroach on the bus lane risk being penalised.
Speaking on Zimpapers’ Star FM radio station , the council spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme said the move would go a long way in easing congestion.
“The bus lanes are only for buses and any other form of traffic will have to use the other lanes. If anyone is found driving in the bus lane, then they will be fined,” he said.
Mr Chideme said the reason behind introduction of bus lanes was to decongest traffic and make sure that there is easy movement of commuters from point A to point B.
He also said the smooth flow of traffic would ensure that people do not queue at congested places for a long period of time.
A survey conducted by this publication yesterday showed that most buses were complying with the new order, although some defiant motorists were still encroaching their lane.
Along Jason Moyo Avenue, Zupco buses that load and offload passengers at Copa Cabana terminus were using the new inner lane.
The Government is working on improving the country’s road network system.
National highways are being widened and a major programme to repair damaged roads in urban areas is in progress, with the Government moving into what was normally a municipal responsibility, along with the normal Government work on maintaining rural roads.
As one major element in plans already in progress to ease a major source of congestion, road engineers want to replace the now clogged Mbudzi roundabout, which when built helped alleviate congestion but which is now overwhelmed, with a flyover at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze Road, Chitungwiza Road and High Glen Road.
Online Reporter