MORE than 980 bus operators have applied for parking slots at the newly built Mwenge commuter bus terminal, while the terminal can only hold 250 to 300 vehicles, it has been learnt.

Saadi Mtambule, the Kinondoni district commissioner, said in an exclusive interview early this week that the district has asked the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) to liaise with council officials for effective coordination to avoid congestion.

Jabir Chilumba, a municipal economist, said that the project has been entirely financed through internal revenue with the total cost expected to reach 12.283bn/- upon completion.

Of this, 2.216bn/- was spent internally under the force account system, while 10.067bn/- was paid to contractors, he said, projecting that once operational, the terminal is expected to decongest other city transport nodes.

It will provide a structured, efficient system for bus operators, traders and commuters alike, with authorities affirming that 148 business frames within the terminal area are fully allocated and ready to commence operations.

“We are now waiting for the businesses to officially open,” the DC affirmed, admitting that some unscrupulous traders legally allocated frame space were now reselling them at inflated prices.

“This is illegal, and stern action will be taken against anyone found engaging in such conduct,” he declared, urging genuine frame occupants to set up trade activity without delay.

“If they fail to operate within the expected timeframe, the municipality will repossess and reallocate the frames to eligible traders,” he said.

The multibillion shilling terminal project is now in its final stages of preparation, with minor logistical arrangements nearing completion, he said, discounting rumours that the terminal had been abandoned.

The municipal authorities remain fully engaged in the work, with formal completion set for August and projected to become a key source of revenue for the municipality

“We are committed to protecting and managing it effectively,” he said, underlining the project's significance to the local economy and the public transport system.

The terminal has been under construction for several years, with delays sparking public concern and criticism. However, officials now insist that the project is on a clear path to completion and will soon bring much-needed relief to the city’s transport sector, he added.