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The Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development has proposed car-free days in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) starting February 1.
Wednesdays and Saturdays were proposed as the car-free days as the Bus rapid transit (BRT) transit way are expected to begin operations in the capital.
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Motorists driving along Thika Road
This proposal is said to be part of a plan by the government to decongest the city.
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New declarations
Last year the government had stated that the move would also help Nairobians inculcate the culture of using public transport.
The move is meant to tackle pollution, promote non-motorized transport and encourage physical exercise.
In various cities across the world there are car-free days where motorists are encouraged to give up their vehicles and in some areas, it has been made compulsory.
For instance, In Kigali, Rwanda, it was introduced in mid 2016 and takes place on the first Sunday of every month.
The government will launch five BRT corridors in Nairobi in a move aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the capital.
BRT buses
Priority corridors include Limuru-Kangemi-CBD-Imara Daima –Athi River to Kitengela road.
Other motorways identified are Rongai, Bomas-CBD-Ruiru-Thika- Kenol-Murang’a road and Tala-Njiru-Dandora–CBD-Ngong road.
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Thika Road will now have a dedicated lane to be used by Public Service Vehicles (PSVs)
The fourth line will run from Mama Lucy Hospital-Donholm to the CBD while final line also referred to as ‘Nyati’ will start from Ridgeways on Kiambu road to Balozi and end up in Imara Daima
At their optimum capacity, the corridors are expected to hold up to 950 high capacity buses, reducing travel time and cost by up to 70 percent, according to CS James Macharia.