Latra mulls tracking system to improve daladala operations

Dar es Salaam. The Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra) is considering introducing a vehicle tracking device (VTD) system for commuter buses in an effort to enhance their monitoring and ensure compliance with regulations.

Latra road and transport director Johansen Kahatano told The Citizen yesterday that the installation of VTD seeks to improve the efficiency and reliability of public transport for the benefit of passengers’ overall safety and order of urban transit systems.

“The Transport Licencing (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, 2020 requires buses operating in various areas of this country to be installed with VTD,” he said.

Mr Kahatano added that it was in implementing the regulations that Latra started with intercity buses which were now operating effectively.

“We are now starting installation of the VTD in commuter buses (daladalas).”

Latra is currently engaging various stakeholders including bus operators through their associations and individuals.

According to Mr Kahatano, installation of VTD will facilitate connecting the commuter buses with Latra’s Vehicle Tracking System (VTS).

This will make it easy for Latra to manage various challenges prevailing in the industry, including the challenge of long delays for daladala and that of some licensed commuter operators that do not provide the services for which they were licensed.

“So we are having some challenges of having an imbalance of supply of transport facilities as well as that of some drivers and bus conductors failing to reach the required destinations,” Mr Kahatano said.

He noted that during peak hours, some drivers tend to make U-turns before reaching the end of their routes.

“This is one of the major challenges that Latra contends with in the conduct of its regulatory mechanism for commuter buses in big cities including Dar es Salaam.”

The installation of VTD will facilitate effective operations of daladalas and even show some documentary evidence on what transpired during delivery of service.

“We are optimistic that before the end of this year, we will start the installation of VTD to commuter buses. So, now we are in the phase of involving stakeholders and getting to agree with each other on the best way to implement,”Mr Kahatano said.

Latra head of communications and public relations unity Salum Pazzy said that having long distance routes was among the techniques they used to reduce non- compliance because some operators used to shorten their licensed routes.

“We have decided to introduce long routes which are rotating one way thus, if route is rotating clockwise their will not be a chance for the drivers to go anticlockwise for example we have routes one and, two for Simu 2000 to Mbezi Mwisho, one route goes to Goba road then it will Morogoro road to Mbezi and on a way back it will not go back Goba it will go to through Ubungo to Simu 2000,”he said.

Therefore, once VTD comes into effect, when authority sees them going anticlockwise it could easily make them answerable. Though with some geographical arrangement VTD will be an effective mechanism.

A resident of Segerea, Ms Anna Mugala applauded Latra’s move, saying it will help Tanzanians to get home early.

Ms Mugala who works at one of the shops at Mlimani City said drivers have a tendency of shortcuts especially during evening time.

The executive secretary for the Latra Consumer Consultative Council (Latra CCC), Mr Daud Daudi, said the system will bring positive results to daladala owners because they will also be able to monitor their vehicles.

The VTD will also change the drivers’ behaviours, thereby enhancing the value of transport.

“When the drivers do not comply with Latra’s regulations and make a U-turn it becomes difficult to justify if it is true or not unless someone witnesses the incident,” he said.

He said what was important was the need for every stakeholder to accept the change that comes with the VTD.

“We also encourage Latra to continue coming up with news systems for the safety of passengers,” he said.

Darcoboa’s Shifwaya Lema declined to comment, saying it was too early to make any statement.