AfDB-backed $155 million BRT Phase II launches in Dar es Salaam to enhance urban transit

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and African Development Bank Group President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah have officially launched the second phase of Dar es Salaam's Bus Rapid Transit project. The $155 million infrastructure development expands high-capacity public transit across key urban corridors.

A major urban transportation upgrade has reached commercial launch in East Africa’s commercial hub. According to official disclosures from the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and AfDB Group President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah officially inaugurated Phase II of the Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The $155 million infrastructure scheme was funded jointly by the AfDB Group and the Africa Growing Together Fund, with project delivery managed by the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS).

The African Development Bank Group is a regional multilateral development finance institution dedicated to promoting economic growth and social progress across African nations. TANROADS functions as the executive agency under the Tanzanian Ministry of Works responsible for the maintenance and development of the national road network. The newly operational transit corridor adds 20.3 kilometers of dedicated bus lanes connecting Mbagala to the city center via Kilwa and Kawawa Roads, integrating two flyovers, 26 passenger stations, four feeder facilities, two off-road terminals, a central mega depot, and a pedestrian overpass.

The transit expansion addresses acute urban mobility challenges in Dar es Salaam, where population growth has stretched municipal transport networks. Early operational results demonstrate significant efficiency gains: average travel times along the Mbagala route fell from 90 minutes to approximately 30 minutes, while daily passenger volumes expanded to roughly 90,000 riders. Upon full fleet deployment, the system will operate 250 clean-energy buses, cutting corridor greenhouse gas emissions by 76% annually.

From an industry and policy standpoint, the deployment highlights a strategic shift toward climate-smart, high-capacity urban mass transit in rapidly growing African megacities. Streamlining public transport networks reduces First- and Last-Mile bottlenecks, improves worker productivity, and lowers carbon emissions across dense metropolitan centers.

For international contractors, transit operators, and development investors, the successful execution of BRT Phase II paves the way for further expansion into neighboring regions, such as the Coast Region. Sustainable municipal infrastructure projects backed by multilateral funding offer reliable investment frameworks for commercial vehicles, automated fare collection systems, and urban civil works.