Dar es Salaam going nowhere, but up!
Major Developments underway to make Dar es Salaam a world-class city
DEVELOPMENTS UNDERWAY
Dar es Salaam, which means the haven of peace, is a beautiful coastal city that is now the economic capital of Tanzania. There are now many positive initiatives at creating a safer, planned and caring city. Dar es Salaam is trying its level best to be a world-class city.
Dar es Salaam has already joined three other cities aimed at initiating the sustainable and safer cities programme. Let us look at some of the attractive and important developments that are underway:
1. DAR ES SALAAM RAPID TRANSIT
The Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART) project will provide commuter services to Dar es Salaam residents using exclusive coaches. The project includes the expansion of city roads, the procurement of the buses and construction of designated bus stop locations to be used specifically for the express coaches.
The fast moving coaches will have exclusive lanes, will adhere to a schedule, including departure and arrival at bus stops whether they have enough passengers or not. The city coaches are expected to ply only on major roads that connect the suburb roads.
The buses would have a carrying capacity of 160 passengers. The first phase of the project will start from Ubungo to the City Centre.
The DART, which has already been implemented in many parts of the world, has many advantages as compared to the present public transport system. It includes a cheaper means of transportation; it is reliable and comfortable in terms of scheduled trips, size, and type of buses deployed.
DART is friendlier in terms of less pollution, emissions and noise.
As regards to efficiency, the project will lessen congestion. In order to achieve this DART will have its own lanes, and will be controlled by routing system through computer network. Boarding and disembarking will be planned to take a few minutes.
2. KIGAMBONI BRIDGE
The Kigamboni area is part of the city of Dar es Salaam. It is divided from rest of the city by the Kurasini Creek. Pedestrians and Vehicles get across using the pantone or by using the road from Kilwa road.
However, the National Social Security Fund has decided to build a bridge across the creek. With this, it is hoped that there would be more development in Kigamboni area with regards to more schools, hospitals and housing.
3. PEDESTRIAN FLYOVERS
There are plans to build more pedestrian bridges at various locations in Dar es Salaam.
Currently Dar es Salaam boast of only one bridge at Manzese.
The construction of the flyover-bridges is expected to bring accident levels down.
4. STREET LIGHTS
Plans are underway to ensure that all street lights in dar would be functioning. A person looking down from high above would see the city like an eagle who has spread its wings. The plan would use the Alladin Concept which is used in many parts of the world. 106 roads would be given priority. Dar es Salaam city has 2005 kilometres of road.
5. TOURIST CITY
More than 640 hectares of the area on the coast of the Indian Ocean in Dar es Salaam, has been reserved to start a new tourist city that would be known as Sea Harbour City.
The reclamation of the land from the sea will extend from Kenyatta Drive to the areas behind the State House. The completion of the project is expected to change completely the face of Dar es Salaam.
Already some experts have researched on the area and found it suitable for the new city. Under the construction, the seawater would be drawn forward and the area would be filled with soil.
After the construction, there would be 200 shops, many tourist hotels, and other attractions for tourists. The whole area around Salender Bridge would have gardens of different types of wild birds in order to make the city more beautiful.
The new town will have new facilities like modern traffic routes connecting the new city with the old one, office space, shops, financial institutions, supermarkets, hotels and apartments, banks have been included in the plan. Apart from building offices, the developers are planning to set aside space for a small zoo.
DEVELOPMENTS DONE
1. ULTRA MODERN SPORTS STADIUM
With the assistance of china, Dar es Salaam now boasts of an ultra modern national stadium with a capacity of 60,000 spectators. The multi-billion shilling project is a state-of-the-art stadium, it is a FIFA, and Olympic standard complex and has house a 60,000-seater football stadium, an indoor games stadium and a theatre.
2. SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS TO FIGHT CRIME
The city of Dar es Salaam now includes surveillance cameras for catching and recording different activities taking place in different parts of the city. The cameras also help the Dar es Salaam police fight crime in the city.
While it is good to not the above developments, they should be sooner than latter. In addition, more developments also need priority. These include:
A. Roads
There should be provision of road signs and markings, including zebra crossing. Moreover, there should be street widening initiatives and facilities such as walkways and bicycle ways. Push Buttons in Zebra Crossings.
B. Emergency
Fire, health and other emergency services should be invested upon seriously.
C. Water & Electricity
In order to woo investors, we need regular and uninterrupted supply of water and electricity.
D. Crime
Crime of all types needs to be tackled. From pickpockets to armed robbery, all need to be tackled soon.
E. Cleaning and beautifying the city
Investments for more recycling centers. Initiatives for cleaning the city, planting trees, flowers and green grass. Converting all roundabouts into landmarks.
F. Vehicle Flyovers
Flyovers at road intersections to ease traffic congestion.
G. Slums upgraded
Many areas in Dar have only slums. They should be rehabilitated.
Dar es Salaam should go nowhere, but up. It should be safe, clean, convenient and a harmonious city.
http://www.karibudar.com/developments.htm
19th August 2007, 04:30 PM
19th August 2007, 04:30 PM
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