A fight between matatu operators and the county government is behind the delay in operationalising the Sh 250 million Nairobi s Green Park bus terminus.
The Federation of Public Transport Sector Chairman Edwin Mukabana told the Business Daily that motorists did not ask for any extension but have refused to park at the new station because they could not agree on how it should be operated.
There was a disagreement between the increased passenger fare charged at the facility, the safety of passengers and fears that the new parking could cause congestion within Nairobi.
The GP terminal fares at Green Park varied depending on operator and individual bus fares. Fares at GP were higher than what was charged in the CBD. Mukabanah said that the poor felt disadvantaged while using GP.
He said that the safety of passengers at Green Park was a concern because passengers were not being screened when boarding buses.
Pickpocket incidents at the Green Park terminal were likely to increase. He said that CBD has CCTV which was not seen at the Green Park Terminal.
It was very difficult for passengers to get services, as they had to walk from the eastern side of the city to the park and vice versa.
This means that the time taken to access public transport from both ends was too long, resulting in unnecessary extra expenses.
CBD connectivity was close to rail and other modes. He said that it was not easy for passengers to get to a destination such as Westlands, Ngara, Gikomba, Machakos Country Bus.
The 250 million terminus at the former Lunar Park can accommodate between 300 and 350 vehicles at any one time, processing about 1,000 PSVs per hour and up to 20,000 per day.
The entire stage was not allowed at the terminus and matatus took only 20 minutes.
All staff drivers, conductors, and route marshals were expected to have badges with names, photos, uniforms, sacco or company names. There was a staff member on every route to assist in operations at the terminus.
Matatus was also banning from picking up or dropping passengers at non-designated places, including the entire stretch of the exit road.
The bus terminal was to serve as pick-up and drop-off points for matatus from Ngong, Karen, Rongai, Kikuyu, Dagoretti, Kawangware, Kibra, Highrise, Ngumo, Langata, Nairobi West, Makadara, Kaberia, Satellite and Kiserian.