PASSENGERS using paper tickets issued by the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) transport system in Dar es Salaam will now be required to switch to smart cards starting next month as the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART) phases out paper tickets.

The transition is part of a broader initiative to improve the efficiency of the city’s public transport system.

Dr Athumani Kihamia, DART Chief Executive Officer confirmed the move on Dar es Salaam at the weekend, stating that from March 1, passengers will no longer be able to use paper tickets.

Speaking during the closure of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) project, Dr  Kihamia   said the smart cards, which are already available for purchase at the main project stations, will be the sole method for  passengers to  pay  fares   for all bus rapid transit  routes.

“We have been encouraging our passengers to transition to smart cards; while many have made the switch, some have yet to do so,” he said.

He added that the shift to smart cards will not only make transactions more convenient by eliminating the need for change but also help prevent revenue leakage and improve the overall efficiency of the system.

He emphasised that the smartcard system is a key part of ongoing efforts to modernise and streamline Dar es Salaam's public transportation network.

Additionally, Dr Kihamia revealed that the government has signed a contract with a bus service provider for the second phase of the BRT project along Kilwa Road, extending to Mbagala.

He urged residents og the area to prepare for the new service.

“Exciting developments are on the horizon; the government has already taken action. Starting March 31, residents of Mbagala and surrounding areas will begin to benefit from the rapid transit buses, the service they have eagerly awaited for a long time,” he said.

Kihamia emphasised that Mbagala residents will also be required to use smartcards once the service begins, addressing challenges with the paper ticket system that arose during the first phase of the project.

Earlier, the representative from the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government) Gilbert Moga, noted that while the TOD project had been completed within three years of its initiation, the government needs to ensure  continued development, given its significant benefits.  

“The completion of the project marks just the beginning of how we, as a nation, will continue to develop the vision initiated by our partners in Japan and managed by DART. I assure Tanzanians that we will ensure the continuation of the project, ensuring that all six corridors of DART network benefit from the TOD development,” he said.

The TOD project focuses on improving public transport by integrating commercial, office and residential spaces around transport hubs. It also includes development of pedestrian-friendly areas and improvements in transit ease, encouraging more people to use public transport.