The Nairobi public transport system is set for a boost following the groundbreaking of Nairobi Railway City on December 07.
The multi-modal urban development project will see a revitalization of the railway systems, which will be interlinked with the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system to offer a seamless commuting experience for Nairobians.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, President William Ruto decried the current nature of Nairobi’s transport system, characterized by massive traffic congestion leading to wastage of productivity hours.
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“Economic productivity and competitiveness are associated with the density of transport and communications infrastructure linkages. Transport systems, in particular, are the cornerstones of efficiency; conversely, therefore, Inadequate transport systems are a serious growth and development challenge as delays and high cost of transportation hold entire cities and nations back,” said the president.
The head of state said the new project consists of three convergence masterplans aimed at achieving various purposes, including offering a transport alternative and helping develop the city on the southern side.
“The Nairobi Railways City is designed to be a masterpiece, an icon expression of complementary convergence of three transformational master plans – The Nairobi Integrated Urban Master Plan, Nairobi Transport Master Plan and Nairobi Commuter Railway Master Plan,” said Ruto.
“These plans are intended to achieve numerous critical objectives, including creating a transit hub regenerating the precincts of Nairobi central station, expanding the city to the southeast and positioning Nairobi as a leading global city and a thriving commercial hub,”
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Speaking during the same event, Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja said the time spent on Nairobi road is equivalent to what people use in travelling abroad by air, calling for a need to solve the menace.
“From Nairobi, you can get to any part of the world, you can get to New York in 10 hours, you can get to Dubai in 5 hours. But you get to the city and get stuck for 4 hours in traffic,” said Sakaja.
The railway project will take place on a 425-acre prime piece of land between Haile Sellasie Avenue, Uhuru Highway, Landhies Road and Bunyala Road.
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