The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) on Wednesday approved a $100 million to Rwanda to support the implementation of the Kigali Urban Transport Improvement Project.
The critical project is aimed at improving transport in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, in response to the high volume of traffic and increasing urban mobility problem in the city.
Traffic congestion and long queues are common at major junctions in Kigali, increasing travel times, operating times, traffic conflicts, and disruption. The transport problems in the city are primarily attributed to the lack of an inclusive urban mobility system.
The growing urban mobility problem has led citizens to shift to motorbike taxis, which puts users at a high risk of serious accidents.
“The project will focus on improving three of the seven crucial junctions identified as bottlenecks so as to have more efficient, sustainable, and user-friendly urban transport infrastructure,” said Aïssa Touré Sarr, AfDB’s country manager for Rwanda.
“Ultimately, the investments should make it possible to mitigate the current and future challenges of urban mobility in Kigali and pave the way for a just transition to a more sustainable and efficient urban transport system, thereby transforming into a low-carbon sector, ” Sarr added.
The initiative involves the construction of junctions with provisions for non-motorized traffic and public transport. It also includes upgrading bus stops, constructing pavements and pedestrian crossings, and developing well-lit transport stations that cater to the needs of city residents, including pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Kigali’s population currently stands at 1.7 million. The population is expected to rise to 3.8 million by 2050.
Related: African Development Bank approves $134.71 million for DRC and CAR
