Kabul bus rapid transit

Transit system in Kabul

Kabul bus rapid transit is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Kabul, Afghanistan, currently under construction.

History

A bus rapid transit system in the city of Kabul was envisaged since 2009 to relieve pressure on motor traffic in the fast-urbanizing city.[1] Kabul Municipality, the Ministry of Transport, and the Japan Cooperation Agency in Afghanistan (JICA) held a joint international conference in New York City in 2016 to research and discuss a potential system. The BRT system was officially unveiled by Kabul Municipality in June 2017, which has also been referred to as Metrobus.[2] Officials said that construction would start soon and that the system's first phase would be opened in 2018.[3] It was reported in July 2018 that the project had been hampered by delays,[4] and as of January 2019 it is still not yet completed.[5]

The project will cost $15 million to be built, paid for by the municipality.[6] It is also part of the wider Asian Development Bank's 20-year urban investment program in Afghanistan.[7]

Infrastructure

The BRT's bus lanes would have a width of 60 metres (200 ft).[8] There will also be specialized pedestrian crosswalks and overpasses at BRT stops.

Route

Construction of the BRT system is split into four phases, all serving the city's main downtown district:[9]

  • Phase I: Deh Afghanan – Salang Watt Road (Baraki Square) – Sara-e Shamali
  • Phase II: Baraki Square – Karte Parwan – Silo Road – Kote Sangi – Sevom Aqrab Road (Deh Mazang) – Deh Afghanan
  • Phase III: Deh Afghanan – Maidan Square – Sara-e Shamali
  • Phase IV: Deh Afghanan – Jadayi Maiwand – Karte Naw – Arzan Qimat

With additional extensions it is expected to be 111 km long by 2020 including serving Dashte Barchi and Darulaman.[10][3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "THE STUDY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE KABUL METROPOLITAN AREA IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-12. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  2. ^ "Kabul municipality unveils new developments in metro bus project - The Khaama Press News Agency". www.khaama.com. 12 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Kabul Municipality Unveils First Metro Bus System - TOLOnews".
  4. ^ "Delays Hamper Work on Kabul Metrobus Project".
  5. ^ "BAZAR: Kabul Municipality Criticized for Metrobus Project".
  6. ^ "First-ever metro bus project launched in Kabul". www.pajhwok.com.
  7. ^ "AFGHANISTAN TRANSPORT SECTOR MASTER PLAN UPDATE (2017–2036)" (PDF). adb.org. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  8. ^ Afghanistan, 1TV. "Kabul metro bus project to be launched today".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Detailed Design of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Network in Kabul City - dgMarket". www.dgmarket.com.
  10. ^ "Kabul municipality unveils new developments in metro bus project". vostoknews.org.