Dar es Salaam’s bus rapid transit: why it’s been a long, bumpy ride
INFRASTRUCTURE projects are often subject to political aspirations. But when they are not realised as promised or their costs multiply over the years, the projects turn into public controversies. After a while, the aspirations, promises and controversies settle as the infrastructure system becomes an integral part of the environment and society. Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit is such a project. It was planned to improve urban transport by gradually replacing minibuses in Tanzania’s largest city. Author MALVE JACOBSEN, Post-doctoral researcher, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz Various challenges, like unclear construction plans, residents’ protests and unexpected costs, led to several…