The National Treasury in Kenya has approved plans for a road and railway master project aimed at decongesting Nairobi. The project is being funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Mass Rapid Transit, the Sh400-million project will involve the construction of 167 km of new roads and railway lines linking the city to several satellite towns. The plan will also see the construction of a rapid bus transit system to be used by special buses and will charge lower rates than other buses.
The project will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 will involve the construction of the bus transit system.
The government through the National Treasury has already invited consultants to develop designs and financing models for two of the seven main corridors that form the Mass Rapid Transit System.
It is estimated that traffic gridlock costs the country millions of shillings annually through lost working hours and wasted fuel.
