CAIRO: The Ministry of Transportation announced last week that the Cairo Transportation Authority (CTA) would be replacing a significant part of its bus fleet in the hopes of improving its level of service in the hopes of attracting more riders to generate increased revenue.
In total 1,100 buses will be replaced in the next three years. The routes affected are largely those in Cairo proper, but a few as well that reach as far out as Sixth of October City.
Currently, the transportation system in Cairo, although steadily improving, with the expansion of the metro, is still very much in dire need of upgrading to meet citizens' everyday needs and expectations, which is exactly what the Governorate of Cairo is seeking to accomplish with this improvement.
"Beginning this month, 200 buses will be replaced, 300 by the end of this year, 300 more by the end of 2011, and another 300 by the end of 2012," explained Khaled Mostafa, spokesperson from the Cairo Governorate of Transport, explained,
Although the existing bus routes will remain unchanged, what is significant about this project is, not only will public transportation users be able to enjoy riding in newer, safer buses, but the "bus drivers will be required to undergo training programs to improve the level of their performance on the job", Mostafa elaborated.
Bus drivers are expected to attend a drivers education course where they will learn how to come to a full stop, what the appropriate time is to remain at a bus stop as well as how to provide users with sufficient time to enter and exit the bus in a safe manner, and how to respect the bus routes to name a few.
Drivers will furthermore be provided with standard uniforms, which will all the more enhance the image and, hopefully, the level of professionalism of the CTA bus division.
Administrative staff will also take such trainings.
The hope is that by upgrading the bus system to one that is more in line with those found in other major metropolitan cities, more of the capital's citizens would it for transportation.
As the situation currently stands, it is not uncommon to hear complaints about the current bus system for its lack of professionalism and reliability.
Ziad Amer, student at Cairo University, complained, "Everyday I take the metro rather than the bus, because, to be honest, the bus system is utterly unreliable: sometimes they don't even respect their routes and waiting times are totally unpredictable. And to be quite frank, I feel very unsafe on those buses."
As the government would expect, Amer would change his opinion of the Cairo bus system as well as consider using it to go to the university. "If the bus system in Cairo were to become more reliable, safer and professional, then I would most definitely use it for my daily needs. I personally feel that many people living in Cairo feel this way too", he opined.
If the CTA can convince more citizens of Cairo like Amer to use the bus system after this upgrade, then it can anticipate increased revenue through a rise in the number of riders.
The government is also looking to open another venue for private sector investement through this project. According to the official website of the Cabinet, "Doors will be open for the private sector to participate in the mentioned project though introducing 1,500 new air-conditioned buses by the coming period, something which would encourage private cars' drivers to use these special buses instead of their own cars."
By Christopher Le Coq
© Daily News Egypt 2010
