The Gauteng Roads and Transport Department, in partnership with the City of Tshwane, has launched a R170 million state-of-the-art A Re Yeng bus depot in Tshwane.
“We wish to compliment the City of Tshwane for taking the bold decision yesterday to introduce A Re Yeng bus services in Mamelodi, even though the infrastructure is not in place,” Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi said at the launch held under the theme ‘Transforming and Modernising Public Transport in Gauteng’.
The operating company for A Re Yeng is wholly owned by the taxi industry in the region.
“This is a wonderful example of the municipality and the taxi industry going the proverbial ‘extra mile’ in service of our communities,” MEC Vadi said.
Provincial road network
The provincial department has a road network of 5 638km, with 4 250km being paved roads. The network includes 676 bridges and 428 culverts.
“We have been hard at work to maintain and upgrade this network. Yet, we are deeply disappointed by the damage that is being done to this network by overloaded freight vehicles and at times community protesters,” MEC Vadi said.
The total asset value of the network is calculated at R25.5 billion.
MEC Vadi condemned the damage caused last week to the R59 in Meyerton by service delivery protesters, who had dug a wide and deep trench right across the dual lane road, putting at risk the lives of motorists.
“The sad thing about what happened in Meyerton is that protesters threatened and intimidated departmental officials who were on site to repair the road.
“While we are mindful of the rights of residents to protest, this should be done within the confines of the law and without damage to public infrastructure,” he said.
Transport Month events
During Transport Month, the department will officially open new bus-rapid transit (BRT) routes in the Tshwane city centre and host a rail summit with PRASA to look at safety and service delivery standards, specifically along the Vereeniging-Johannesburg corridor.
A new technological application for travelling information and a pilot of the integrated e-ticket across Gautrain and BRT systems in the province will also be launched.
The rehabilitation of the Double-Decker, Oxford and Federation bridges has been completed and the three lanes on both sides of the M1 freeway will be opened to traffic shortly. - SAnews.gov.za
