According to GAPTE, motorists found culpable will pay a fine ranging from GH¢ 150 to GH¢ 300.

The AMA placed a ban on the enforcement of the traffic and parking violation laws by GAPTE due to the non-existence of a Board in 2017, but the ban has now been lifted, paving way for the body to sanction recalcitrant drivers.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SlhmwSjwvSJDfJXI7oajN3ws26lt4PwX”]Speaking to Citi News, the Communications Manager for GAPTE, Fred Chidi, said enforcement of the law will take effect on Monday, March 12, 2018 on the Accra CMB-Amasaman corridor, which is the only route the bus currently plies.

He noted that vehicles found to have been parked in the middle of the dedicated lanes will be towed and their owners will be surcharged.

“Light duty towing is about GH¢ 250, medium-duty vehicles will be GH¢260 and big trucks if they are towed, will attract a fee of GH¢ Ghc300. The notice is going to them because we will ensure that the rules are strictly enforced this time  because these fines are not imposed by GAPTE, it is the Assembly that has come up with this rule.  It is the Assembly’s rules that we are enforcing. From Monday, you’ll see enforcement activities on the corridor between Amasaman and Tudu and it will be supported by the MTTD of the Ghana Police Service,” he said.

The BRT service was launched in 2016 and currently has its buses, christened ‘Aayalolo’, plying the Amasaman-Ofankor-Achimota-Accra corridor.

Although the service has not experienced any major challenge so far, it is yet to attract optimum interest among commuters as most still prefer to board other commercial vehicles, popularly known as ‘trotro’.

Recent reports suggested that several months into commercial operations, the Aayalolo bus service is yet to make profits.

The dedicated lane currently used by the buses is less than one kilometer long, but it is often occupied by parked or broken-down vehicles with some commercial drivers taking over the lanes to avoid waiting in traffic.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Unauthorized ‘Aayalolo lane’ users to be fined – GAPTE appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Last Saturday, the two engaged in verbal exchanges over the right to use the dedicated BRT lane near Roxy Cinema at Adabraka, Accra.

[contextly_sidebar id=”rE6GhHcL8bU5iGqEoVbiqYBuukwWl4VH”]The EOCO official who was provoked by the action of the Aayalolo bus driver, reportedly handcuffed him in the heat of the exchanges.

Speaking to Citi News, the Public Relations Officer of the company, Fred Chidi, said they petitioned EOCO over the conduct of the officer but they are yet to receive any response.

“The official of EOCO was in a Toyota Saloon car at the Roxy cinema bus stop in Adabraka, that bus stop is the exclusive use of the Aayalolo bus and so while he was in the car, apparently having a conversation with somebody the Aayalolo bus pulls in and there was no place to park. So the driver gets down and asks the EOCO officer to move the vehicle from the bus stop and the EOCO driver gets into some confrontation with the driver and soon he pulls out his handcuff and cuffs the Aayalolo driver.”

“And so what we did was that we officially complained to EOCO, I personally sent a letter there; but we haven’t had any response from EOCO. The same day we had to take it the central police MTTD in Accra Central, the issue was resolved, the gentleman removed the handcuff and we thought that his attitude was uncalled for. We don’t know when EOCO became police officer or an MTTD officer and were carrying handcuffs on them,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post EOCO petitioned over handcuffing of Aayololo bus driver appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is part of government’s major plan to improve transportation services within Accra.

This was revealed by the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama who said some GH¢1.7 million allocation has been made to facilitate the implementation of the project on that corridor.

The amount will cater for the provision of signage and other road fittings.

While justifying her minister’s need for the proposed 2017 budget allocation, she expressed confidence that the service, when rolled out along that stretch, will ease mobility of persons who live along that part of Accra.

The BRT service, was launched last year and currently has its buses, christened ‘Aayalolo’ plying the Amasaman-Ofankor-Achimota-Accra corridor.

Although the service has not experienced any major challenge so far, it is yet to attract optimum interest among commuters as most still prefer to board other commercial vehicles, popularly known as ‘trotro’.

Meanwhile, Parliament has approved a sum of GH¢321 million as annual budget estimates for the Local Government Ministry.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

The post Aayalolo buses to ply Adenta-Accra route – Minister appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.