The R22bn project, known as Go Durban, aims to fully integrate trains, buses and taxis across the city and surrounding areas, complete with train stations, bus shelters, dedicated bus and taxi lanes and pedestrian walkways on feeder routes.
Durban is well behind cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pretoria, and the Ekurhuleni metro, in starting the rapid transportation network. But the city said it was doing its best to catch up and would not allow further delays.
Research quoted by the World Resources Institute shows that bus rapid transport systems can reduce travel time by millions of hours for commuters worldwide. Commuters in Johannesburg are expected to save an estimated 73m hours between 2007 and 2026 because of the rapid transport network there.
The first phase of the Go Durban project, which will cost about R10bn and run for 21 months, started in Pinetown at the beginning of last month. Its focus is on the Durban city centre, Pinetown, Bridge City, KwaMashu, Umhlanga, Umlazi and Isipingo. Some businesses and landowners, however, have complained that digging had taken place on their private properties without their consent or proper consultation.
But the city said it had taken every precaution and had consulted with businesses and landowners before work on the project started.
"There are other landowners in the area that are impacted and affected and we have gone through the due process of notifying them by advertising in relevant media during the preliminary design process," said Carlos Esteves, eThekwini's Deputy Head of Road System Management.
"Public meetings were held as required before (the municipal) council approved the project. The process included the statutory consultation for EIA (environmental impact assessment) requirements and approval.
"When design was approaching finalisation, a special effort was made to notify all affected parties. A public meeting was scheduled for 19 November last year at Lahee Park Sports Club.
"Notification of this meeting was advertised in the local press and via the local chamber of commerce and business associations. Printed invitations were also hand-delivered at each property during the week 11 to 15 November," Esteves said.
Thami Manyathi, head of transport in the eThekwini municipality, told journalists his team would continue to engage with affected stakeholders to get their co-operation. These included the businesses and landowners that had complained. Expropriation would be a last resort.
"My team are trying to resolve all matters so that, if need be, we can amend the construction programme to allow for the expropriation process to be finalised and then complete the work," Manyathi said.
Source: Business Day via I-Net Bridge
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