Kabul bus rapid transit
Kabul bus rapid transit is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Kabul, Afghanistan, currently under construction.
History
A bus rapid transit system in the city of Kabul was envisaged for long, including in 2009, to relieve pressure on motor traffic in the fast-urbanizing city.[1] Kabul Municipality, the Ministry of Transport, and the Japan Cooperation Agency in Afghanistan (JICA) held a joint international conference in New York City in 2016 to research and discuss a potential system. The BRT system was officially unveiled by Kabul Municipality in June 2017, which has also been referred to as Metrobus.[2] Officials said that construction would start soon and that the system's first phase would be opened in 2018.[3] It was reported in July 2018 that the project had been hampered by delays,[4] and as of January 2019 it is still not yet completed.[5]
The project will cost $15 million to be built, paid for by the municipality.[6] It is also part of the wider Asian Development Bank's 20-year urban investment program in Afghanistan.[7]
Infrastructure
The BRT's bus lanes would have ah of 60 metres (200 ft).[8] There will also be specialized pedestrian crosswalks and overpasses at BRT stops.
Route
Construction of the BRT system is split into four phases, all serving the city's main downtown district:[9]
- Phase I: Deh Afghanan - Salang Watt Road (Baraki Square) - Sara-e Shamali
- Phase II: Baraki Square - Karte Parwan - Silo Road - Kote Sangi - Sevom Aqrab Road (Deh Mazang) - Deh Afghanan
- Phase III: Deh Afghanan - Maidan Square - Sara-e Shamali
- Phase IV: Deh Afghanan - Jadayi Maiwand - Karte Naw - Arzan Qimat
With additional extensions it is expected to be 111 km long by 2020 including serving Dashte Barchi and Darulaman.[10][3]
See also
References
- http://open_jicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11965266.pdf
- "Kabul municipality unveils new developments in metro bus project - The Khaama Press News Agency". www.khaama.com.
- "Kabul Municipality Unveils First Metro Bus System - TOLOnews".
- https://www.tolonews.com/business/delays-hamper-work-kabul-metrobus-project
- https://www.tolonews.com/business/bazar-kabul-municipality-criticized-metrobus-project
- "First-ever metro bus project launched in Kabul". www.pajhwok.com.
- https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/institutional-document/327561/afg-transport-plan-2017-2036.pdf
- Afghanistan, 1TV. "Kabul metro bus project to be launched today".
- "Detailed Design of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Network in Kabul City - dgMarket". www.dgmarket.com.
- "Kabul municipality unveils new developments in metro bus project". vostoknews.org.