President Adama Barrow of the Gambia Monday launched the Urban Transport Initiative aimed at improving the transport link in West African country.
Speaking at the ceremony held at the McCarthy Square in Banjul, President Barrow said: “Today marks another milestone in the history of vehicular transportation in the country, as we launch the Urban Transport Initiative, for which we are here to inaugurate thirty-eight brand new buses. Thirty-three of the buses are exclusively for urban transport services, whilst the remaining five are for operational support to the Urban Transport Initiative Project.
This development cannot come at a better time, considering the recent significant improvements on our road infrastructure network and the growing traffic congestion in the Greater Banjul Area.
Despite the Government’s achievements in this sector, the need to complement road infrastructure development with proper road transport operations is obvious. History teaches that, for any country to improve its transport services, public transport services, particularly in urban settings, must be efficient and responsibly managed.
This Urban Transport Initiative illustrates the National Development Plan’s recognition of the important role public transport services contribute towards the national economy.
Acting on this recognition, my Government will steadfastly seek to improve the transport sector through all relevant stakeholders, especially the operatives within it.
Recently, we established the Department of Transport at the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure to assume oversight responsibility of policy and regulation of road transport and other related sub-sectors.
The Greater Banjul Area hosts the bulk of our population. No wonder meeting the mobility needs of the people within the Area, amid its rapid rate of urbanisation and population growth is one of the major challenges in the National Transport Policy. As such, any scheme geared towards improving urban transport services to ease movement without compounding traffic congestion is most welcome and laudable.
Cognisant of this huge challenge, we are intensifying efforts during the implementation period of the National Transport Policy (2018-2026), my government will continue to address the concerns linked to the increased demand for transport through efficiency improvements, including regular and effective public transport service provision and traffic management measures. Easing traffic on the main road links will take centre stage in this respect.
With a broader City-State concept in mind, we expect that this project will extend services to the rural area in our drive to comprehensively address the transport challenges we face throughout the length and breadth of the country.
Consequently, we must note that efficiency in the transport sector cannot come about without the active participation of the private sector.
In this regard, we renew the invitation to the private sector operators to participate in operating an effective and efficient transport system in the country. Given the fact that the road transport system is liberalised, I challenge the private sector to play a more active and diverse role in the sector.
The collaboration established by Q-Group and The Gambia Transport Services Company (GTSC) is highly commendable, and I advocate the promotion of such mutual collaboration and cooperation.
In accordance with the National Transport Policy, The Gambia Government will create incentives to facilitate and broaden private sector participation in public transportation activities. I assure you that Government will continue to support GTSC to operate buses in all regions of the country, while encouraging private partners to invest more in infrastructure development to support the sector.
We will consider allocating routes on the local and secondary roads to GTSC, based on agreed terms of engagement beneficial to all partners.
Meanwhile, the relevant authorities will arrange to review the legislative frameworks to enable the Government to play the triple role of facilitator, regulator, and enforcer, while the private sector takes on operational responsibilities within the sector.
The supply credit arrangement between GTSC and the Q-Group (Espace Motors), through the provision of urban transport services, will immensely ease transportation for low-income households. Besides this, it will make transport operations more viable, as transport providers are likely to increase hours of operation, service frequency, and destinations.
All these go with environmental benefits, such as reducing emissions and reducing the road congestion currently experienced on the road links in the urban area.
I have noted that the Project will create employment for at least seventy Gambians. With the good safety record of GTSC over the years, we hope the Initiative will lower the high rate of road accidents to the barest minimum.
I thank the GTSC for their tireless efforts to provide reliable public transport service in The Gambia. The Urban Transport Services Initiative clearly symbolises a new era of collaboration for public transport service provision. We pray that it succeeds.
I appreciate and commend the Q-Group for agreeing to supply buses to GTSC, through a supply credit agreement, for the implementation of this important project.
To those who will be gainfully employed by the project, I urge you to make use of this opportunity and take good care of the buses. I cannot conclude without expressing appreciation to the staff of the Ministries of Transport, Works and Infrastructure and Finance and Economic Affairs for working to ensure that the project takes off the ground smoothly.
Finally, I thank everyone here for your presence, and I entreat you to remain united with Government to augment our development efforts for a better Gambia.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, with this brief statement, it is my honour and delight to officially inaugurate the new fleet of buses for urban public transportation.”
