THE GO!Durban meeting that was held in Pinetown last Wednesday evening revealed that the project is nine months behind schedule.
This was a special meeting to to provide people with up-to-date information about the first route of the new integrated rapid public transport network (IRPTN) from KwaMashu to Pinetown.
The IRPTN project was designed with the hope of linking various modes of public transport between Pinetown, uMlazi, uMhlanga, Bridge City and Durban Central.
Carlos Esteves, the deputy head of road system management, presented an explanation about the project and presentations of what the road will look like after it is done were provided.
There have been many complaints about this project since it started.
The businesses along the roads which they are working on have complained about the negative effects that this project has on their businesses because of the traffic. Residents have also complained about the project not creating job opportunities for them.
Recently, Pinetown residents complained about the noise coming from the constructors at night. Esteves promised the residents that there will be no more working taking place during the night.
He said that there are lots of great things that people can expect once the roadworks are finished.
“This project has created 6332 job opportunities since it started. There will be an app that will be created so that people can get information on the bus times and routes.”
Pinetown CPF’s chairman, Matthew Buthelezi, who was present at the meeting, said his three main problems with this project were crime, traffic and duration.”The community needs to know when the project will be finished as we have now learnt that it is almost a year behind. The crime issue is also a big concern: just last week Monday a tourist was mugged on Josiah Gumede (Old Main) Road.
“This project is run by the municipality but it puzzles me that the departments do not communicate. The traffic congestion on Pinetown roads is a nightmare, how come there are no visible metro police guiding the traffic, especially in the mornings and peak hours?”
Owner of Coastal Hire, Pinetown, Peter Morgan-Edwards, said the project has had a negative effect on businesses.
“The worst part is that they are not consulting with us as business owners, to this day no one has told me anything about this project. It is taking too long and they are not doing anything to improve the process,” he said.
