New buses to start running this February
By Iris Aminata Bangura
Stakeholders of the newly formed Metro Transport Company (MTC) Ltd have said the 50 buses which were recently purchased through a World Bank project, will be ready to hit the streets of the capital in February. Drivers Union, Poda-Poda owners and other players were speaking during the Epic Morning Show on Wednesday.
The buses which will be operated by Metro are in town whiles discussions around the route and other formalities are finalized. Secretary General to the Board of the company, Thomas Barnett said: “We are on preparations to ensure that come first week in February when the buses will start operation, we will be ready to be on the road.”
MTC is an indigenous transport company that will be running the buses. The buses are part of the $50million World Bank sponsored Integrated and Resilient Urban Mobility project. The buses have a special designated route from the East End and from the West End, both terminating at the central business district.
The pilot of the project will see buses run through these pre-determined routes using a new system. Drivers Union Public Relations Officer, Mohamed Kaindaneh-Conteh said the standard of professionalism for MTC buses will be much higher.
“For the few members of the motor Drivers Union who would be fortunate to enroll in this new transport system, it would be a great benefit to them in a way that they would be introduced to a new driving system that will be more professional within the standard of working labor time and their benefits would be achievable as compared to private drivers with informal employment schemes” said Kaindaneh-Conteh.
Transportation is a major challenge in a city like Freetown, with more that 2 million residents who largely depend on public transportation to move through the city. The sector is largely controlled by private players, including the newly established MTC.
