AGENCY for Rapid Buses in the Dar es Salaam Region (DART) has requested to be approved Shs 3.03 billion for normal use, among which the use is to complete the production and installation of the electronic fare collection system.

According to the estimate of income and expenditure for the financial year 2023/24 presented yesterday in Parliament by the Minister of State, Office of the President, Regional Administrations and Local Governments, Angellah Kairuki, Sh2.30 billion is for salaries and Sh731.21 million it is for other uses.

Regarding the government's electronic fare collection system (AFCS) managed by Dart, it will be linked to the vehicle guidance system as part of the continuous improvement of services for citizens living in cities, as well as removing loopholes in the loss of fare income in the system.

The Agency will also continue to increase the network of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in the City of Dar es Salaam by continuing with the infrastructure of the third phase which will involve roads with a length of 20.6 kilometers of Nyerere (Gongolamboto - Posta via Sokoine), Uhuru (Buguruni - Kariakoo Terminal via Shaurimoyo Street and Lindi) and Shaurimoyo (Nyerere – Lindi).

It will complete the procurement procedures of the bus service provider for the first and second phases;

to carry out regular maintenance of the project's infrastructure.

The funds also aim to improve the cleanliness of the agency's network and maintain security by strengthening protections in the Dart network.

The agency will continue with procedures to change the operating system and payment of service providers from receiving fees through the Dart system and start using the distance payment system for buses that will be running.

In another step, the Kariakoo Marketing Corporation has asked to be approved Shs 1.68 billion for normal use which will continue with the construction of a new market, the repair of the burnt one which is expected to be completed in October this year.

Of that amount, Sh 747.54 million is for salaries and Sh 938.44 million is for other expenses.