LOANS taken for the bus rapid transit project in the city of Dar es Salaam could be repaid without realizing the intended investment benefits, a parliamentary committee has declared.

Augustine Vuma (Kasulu Rural), chairman of the public investment committee (PIC) of the National Assembly, made this observation in presenting the committee’s annual report to the legislature yesterday.

He urged the government to ensure the proper utilisation of this operational facility by allocating service providers for completed routes as current underperformance undermines the government’s substantial efforts.

If not addressed, the large public capital invested in the infrastructure could go to waste, he said, stressing that the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART) agency needs to accelerate efforts to secure service providers for routes it operates instead of relying on its own buses.

The Kimara-Kivukoni route was operating 100 buses instead of the planned 305, a level of performance that undermines the purposes of BRT project, to provide Dar es Salaam residents with reliable and fast transport services to alleviate traffic congestion, he pointed out.

All three phases of the project need to be equipped with sufficient bus operational outlays, “ensuring its full operation and realizing the anticipated returns on public investment,” the report specified.

Reviewing the project’s implementation they found that its efficiency and productivity remain low, despite what the government has invested, he said.

Phases one and two have seen a total investment of 847.03bn/-, while phase three has utilized $148.2m so far, he said, noting that the principal section, the Kimara-Kivukoni route and Kimara-Gerezani route are completed but underutilized.

Phase two outlays from Mbagala Rangitatu to the Gerezani and Kivukoni have been open for bus operations for over a year but the relevant authorities are yet to arrange an operator for the route, the committee affirmed.

Phase three from Azikiwe-Maktaba to Gongolamboto on the airport road is slightly above halfway in construction, with no operator lined up for services even in areas that are open for operations, it stated.

“The committee finds that there has been no deliberate effort to fully utilize or operate this BRT project, despite the government’s significant investment, part of which is funded by a loan,” the MP observed.

The committee also identified a lack of road connections at cargo stations along the standard gauge railway (SGR), noting that some areas where cargo stations were planned and built are lacking connecting roads to major highways.

This could hinder transportation of goods by road and reduce the railway’s efficiency and productivity, he said, suggesting that the matter be directed to the highways and regional roads agencies to ensure the provision of necessary infrastructure to link cargo stations to the main roads for efficient transportation of goods.