Bidding for the Sh7.6 billion ($59 million) Nairobi’s Outering Bus Rapid Transit Line (BRT) project is now and is restricted to firms from the Republic of Korea, according to the Kenya Urban Roads Board (KURA).
- The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) says it has received $59 million towards the cost of establishment of BRT Line from the Export-Import Bank of Korea.
- According to the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, portion of the loan is intended to payments under the contract for establishment of BRT Line 5 project.
- A tender notice issued by the authority restricts the project to bidders from the Republic of Korea only and will be conducted according to the Economic Development Cooperation Fund Guidelines.
Work along the BRT Line 5 involves construction of a two-lane BRT Line along the entire length of Nairobi’s outering road of estimated length 10.5 kilometers, building of new footbridges and modification of existing ones, installation of electro-mechanical works, landscaping works, and construction of BRT stations.
All works on the BRT depot will include parking spaces and access road, fence, drains, installation of all electro-mechanical works, building works of approximately 1365m floor area and civil, electrical and mechanical works.
The project also includes the construction of a drainage system, street lighting, landscaping works, and any other improvements as may be approved by the engineers. The bids are to be accompanied with $840,000 security before 19 November 2024.
Can BRT Solve Nairobi’s Traffic?
BRT systems boast capacity and performance levels that are close to other advanced public transport technologies such as metro or light rail. They are considered a low hanging solution to traffic congestion that is slowly eroding the competitiveness of African economies.
Most BRT buses operate on dedicated lanes, allowing them to zoom past traffic and offer fast, predictable journey times. Buses only stop at designated stations where passengers typically prepay the fare before boarding, which helps streamline and speed up operations. Services run frequently and are operated by large vehicles—often articulated or even bi-articulated buses, meaning they can carry large amounts of people quickly and efficiently.
BRT corridors are already up and running in Dar es Salaam, Lagos, and in the South African cities of Cape Town, George, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. Another ten are currently under planning or construction all around Africa. The World Bank is providing financial or technical assistance to eight of these projects, including Abidjan, Dakar, Dar es Salaam (phases 3 & 4), Douala, Kampala, Kumasi, Maputo, and Ouagadougou.
“Public transport is a key focus of our operations, reflecting our clients’ aspiration for efficient, green, and inclusive mobility. Bus Rapid Transit is an integral part of that transition and has become one of the fastest-growing components of our portfolio, especially in Africa,” said Nicolas Peltier-Thiberge, the World Bank’s Global Director for Transport.
BRT System to Get KSh billion from European Lenders (kenyanwallstreet.com)
