The service, which commenced test operations last week suffered many setbacks including challenges with registering and insuring the buses as well as difficulty of drivers to operate the electronic information system in the buses.

The managers later suspended the service for days to retrain its drivers and revise its operating strategy.

The development cast doubt over the prospects of the service in the capital,  but the Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE) told Citi News, their simulation exercise with the buses will continue until they are ready to roll out the transport service fully in the country.

“It is an ongoing process and as and when we encounter a challenge, we bring in the technicians to fix them so we are hoping that by then [9^th October] we would have completed the exercises successfully and then we will be ready for the inauguration and the launch,” he said.

He added that “I cannot tell you for sure [when the testing will end] because it depends on what we will see during the exercise and how far the interventions in terms of remedial actions will go but hopefully sometime within October we should be ready for commercial operations.

No dedicated lanes for ‘BRT’, it’s now Quality Bus System

The Implementers of the transport service, GAPTE, earlier changed the name of the service which was previously known as the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) to Quality Bus System (QBS) because the buses are yet to have dedicated lanes. CEO, Sampson Gyamenah, admitted in an interview on Eyewitness News that there were currently no dedicated lanes, a critical element of any BRT system and instead called what is being implemented a Quality Bus System.

“We do not have a full blown dedicated lane for the buses so I will also hesitate to call what we are putting in place a BRT. It is called a Quality Bus System,” he said.

Service to be expanded

The newly introduced bus service is expected to be expanded to other parts of Accra to help transport passengers faster and more conveniently.

The bus will soon be operational on the Accra – Legon – Madina – Adenta stretch as well as the Kasoa-Accra stretch.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Quality bus service to start full operations before October 31 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This follows concerns over the non-registration and lack of insurance of the buses and challenges with communication between passengers and the bus drivers.

The BRT transport service commenced test operations on Monday with 9 buses plying the Amasaman – Achimota – Circle –Accra route however operators identified challenges with the log system which provided information such as when or where passengers would alight to drivers.

Officials of the BRT system told Citi News that services were also suspended on Tuesday to enable them train the drivers on how to use the system to facilitate non-obstructive communication between them and passengers.

The buses are expected to be back on the streets on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.

‘Buses not insured yet’   

Roland Bruce, Marketing and Communications Manager of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive in an interview with Citi News revealed on Monday that the buses had not been registered and insured yet however will be done by the end of the week.

But Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE), Sampson Gyamenah on Eyewitness News later that day said the information was not true and that the registration and insurance was being done.

‘BRT to start business in October’

Mr. Gyamenah explained that, GAPTE is “looking at the first couple of weeks in October to roll out commercially.”

Mr. Gyamenah explained that, Monday’s operation was a simulation exercise to train operational staff that will be engaged in the system.

“What we did today, was a simulation, more like a training arrangement for our own operational staff and drivers. We haven’t started piloting the services yet.”

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post BRT piloting suspended over unregistered buses appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Roland Bruce, Marketing and Communications Manager of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive; implementer of the BRT service, told Citi News the project will bring relief to Ghanaian commuters.

Over 250 buses have been procured to provide the rapid transport service. The initial plan was to have special BRT lanes for the buses alone, but it appears that can’t happen any longer due to cost and other factors.

The infographic below captures in brief, key features of the buses.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 9 things you need to know about ‘BRT’ service [Infographic] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Chairman of the Committee, Theophilus Tetteh Chai in an interview with Citi News said government consulted all stakeholders ahead of the commissioning of the BRT service.

He said it is not too late for the aggrieved drivers formally lodge their complaints to the service implementer and to have them addressed.

“An extensive consultation has been made with the various transport unions, but if they think there are some challenges that needs to be addressed, it is never too late,” Mr. Tetteh Chai said.

Driver union concerns

Last week, a group of commercial vehicle drivers known as the Committed Drivers Union (CDA) threatened to embark on a strike to protest what they describe as attempts to destroy their livelihoods.

Spokesperson for the Union, Francis Appiah, in an interview with Citi News said “the unfair introduction of the BRT, will hinder their operations and could affect our livelihood.”

Among their concerns is the plan to relocate drivers from their current bus terminals, especially those in major commercial areas.

Francis Appiah explained that, “commercial drivers at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle will be moved to the new lorry station, while commercial drivers operating from the Tema Station will be relocated to the hajj park. The 37 military lorry station will be moved to the Kawukudi Park at Mamobi.”

Drivers’ agitation over BRT system needless

The Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE); implementer of the RBT project have described the agitation by the drivers as needless as collaboration will be maintained with the transport unions to augment the transport services in Accra.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post “Aggrieved drivers must exercise restraint” – Select Committee appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.