150 new taxis released in Dar es Salaam streets to allow transport relief
As BRT services hit turbulence during election season, LATRA’s approval of 150 new buses brings fresh hope for city commuters.
Good news for Dar es Salaam commuters: the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) has approved 150 taxis to boost public transport as the city’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system faces suspension.
The move didn’t happen in a vacuum, it comes after challenges with the BRT system and notable interruptions during election season in Tanzania.
Here’s what’s happening and why it matters.
BRT and its election-season “stumble”
The city’s Bus Rapid Transit system was launched to ease congestion, connect suburbs to the urban core and deliver a modern transit option.
Yet during the recent election period, service disruptions and operational delays cast a spotlight on how vulnerable the system is under pressure.
Authorities cited unfinished infrastructure and fleet shortage among the issues. For example, earlier reports noted the system still required 170 buses to operate efficiently.
With the vote-related surge in mobility, some BRT routes faced bottlenecks just when reliability mattered most.
What a commuter need to know
If you travel daily in Dar es Salaam, this change matters. Expect new buses on major routes soon, smoother movement and fewer surprises, especially on high-traffic days.
The new fleet will support routes while the BRT system completes its upgrades and resolves service issues.