Kaduna Targets 20,000 Jobs From Proposed BRT

Kaduna State Transport Regulatory Authority (KADSTRA) has disclosed that the proposed Kaduna Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is expected to create between 10,000 and 20,000 jobs when fully operational.

The managing director of Kaduna Line and acting director-general of KADSTRA, Engr. Inuwa Ibrahim, revealed this during a roundtable discussion with journalists on the project in Kaduna.

Ibrahim said, “We are looking at creating 10,000 to 20,000 jobs. The employment opportunities would come from the operation and maintenance of the buses and other services associated with the BRT system.”

He said the project would have a fleet of 120 articulated buses operating along the BRT corridor, in addition to stations, terminals and a depot.

According to him, the project would also provide wider economic benefits through improved public transportation and easier movement within the metropolis.

Ibrahim said the BRT would use compressed natural gas (CNG), which he described as a cleaner and cheaper transportation option.

He said the existing CNG buses were introduced and sustained by the state government to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal, while the BRT would operate as a dedicated mass transit system with its own infrastructure.

Ibrahim urged the media to closely follow the project from the planning stage through implementation and provide the public with accurate information on its progress.

The Deputy Team Lead, Project Management and Operational Design, Engr. Mahmud Musa, said the BRT was part of efforts to develop an efficient public transportation system in Kaduna.

Musa said an efficient transport system required adequate infrastructure, effective traffic management and an efficient public transport system.

He said feasibility studies conducted on Kaduna’s transport needs, including demand studies, traffic analysis and assessment of the existing road network, informed the decision to adopt the BRT system for the city.

On the implementation of the project, the Project Coordinator, Engineering Design and Procurement, Engr. Idris Lawal, said the major studies had been completed and the project was at an advanced stage of detailed design.

He said the procurement process for Terminal One at Kawo would commence soon, after which construction would begin.

According to him, about 40 kilometres of alternative roads are being rehabilitated to provide alternative routes and minimise the impact of construction on traffic when work begins on the main BRT corridor.

Also speaking, the Project Coordinator of the KBRT project, Engr. Aliyu Usman said engagements were ongoing with transport unions and other stakeholders on the proposed relocation of the existing Kawo Motor.

He said utilities along the BRT corridor, including water facilities, telecommunications infrastructure and electricity cables, would be relocated before construction, while rehabilitation of alternative routes was already in progress to minimise traffic disruption.