KTVR Bus Service and the Ekurhuleni metro launched the extension of the Harambee BRT services from Tembisa to Boksburg recently.
The launch took place at the newly built Harambee BRT station in Chloorkop and was attended by the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, Ekurhuleni mayor, Mzwandile Masina and other dignitaries.
The new service route will start at the Tembisa Hospital and end in Bartlett.
The 28km long, one-way trip to Bartlett will see buses travelling on the current Tembisa to Isando route.
This route will comprise of alternative routes that will go via Director Road and André Greyvenstein Road before linking at Bartlett and Emperors Palace via Jones Road.
The first bus towards Bartlett will leave Tembisa Hospital at 4.40am, while the last bus will leave Bartlett at 7pm and arrive at the Tembisa Hospital at 8.20pm, every Monday to Friday.
Those who wish to leave Bartlett, the first bus departs at 6am to Tembisa Hospital.
- Construction
KTVR Bus Services marketing and media relations officer Tebogo Modise highlighted that in Bartlett construction work has started but they have identified and marked bus stops for the convenience of commuters.
While the Ekurhuleni metro is working on completing the Harambee infrastructure, it continues to expand the service’s operations.
With 22 kerbside stops erected along the route, passengers can safely embark and disembark the bus.
Speaking during the launch of the route, mayor Mzwandile Masina said the investment into public transport is made to transform townships so that they also develop the same way suburbs are developing. He said the investment into public transport such as Harambee will go a long way in changing people’s lives.
“We are investing in public infrastructure in our townships so that our people experience a truly better life for all. We are electrifying the last portions of Winnie Mandela and Vuzimusi, and we will continue giving our people proper sanitation. We will not renege on giving our people dignity,” he said.
Mandlakhe Mtshali, executive chairperson of KTVR Bus Service and SANTACO Ekurhuleni regional deputy chairperson, said: “We are excited that the City of Ekurhuleni is launching the extension of the Harambee service. We stand firmly behind the system and we will continue to ensure that the taxi industry plays a meaningful role in achievement of such milestones.”
To date, the Harambee BRT buses have been used by more than 10 000 people.
Harambee began operations with only eight buses in October 2017 from Rabasotho Hall to Isando. In December 2018, a secondary complementary route from Tembisa Hospital to the airport was launched and 10 additional new buses were introduced in January 2019.
The Harambee buses transport over 3 000 passengers daily.
KTVR Bus Services is a private company that operates the interim service of the Harambee Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network.
The foundation of the name KTVR Bus Service emanates from the abbreviation KTVR (Kempton Park, Tembisa, Vosloorus, Reiger Park) and represents the areas in which the BRT will be operating.
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