The government is targeting a daily public transport capacity of at least 200,000 commuters in Accra, with plans to expand the Ayalolo bus service and introduce light rail services across the capital.
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, said the current Ayalolo counter-flow operations transport about 8,000 people daily, but the government intends to increase that figure to 30,000 before expanding capacity further.
He said buses alone would not be sufficient to meet the long-term target, making light rail services necessary to move larger numbers of commuters.
“As we speak, the Ayalolo buses are moving eight thousand per day. But we need to move to a point where we are moving thirty thousand per day and even up to two hundred thousand per day. And the only thing that can assist us to do that won’t be buses; it has to be with the light rails,” he said.
Mr Ayariga disclosed this on Tuesday, November 10, while outlining the government’s plans to expand public transportation and reduce pressure on Accra’s roads.
He said the proposed light rail network would serve different parts of the city and operate alongside the existing Ayalolo bus service to increase the number of people transported daily.
The minister also disclosed plans to provide between 30 and 40 motorbikes to the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) to strengthen monitoring of the Ayalolo counter-flow system.
He said the police would intensify surveillance at major intersections to prevent private motorists from illegally joining Ayalolo bus convoys and using the designated lanes.
