What was deemed an alternative to centralise luxury coaches departures and arrivals on Monday turned into a nightmare for Lilongwe City Council as both passengers and operators expressed reservations about the new site.
During a visit to the site dubbed international coach terminal located at the Grand Business Park off the Lilongwe West Bypass, it was observed that there were no passenger shelters and while sanitary facilities are poor.
One of the passengers, James Diverson, who travelled on a Sososo Bus from Blantyre, said he was shocked to learn that the facility lacked basic amenities.
In an interview at the site, Bus Owners Association of Malawi chairperson Rex Matewere expressed similar concerns that the area lacked sanitary facilities and passengers’ shelter, among others.
He said: “For instance, the toilets available cannot cope with the pressure of passengers who will be using this facility. There is no shelter and what they are calling a loading bay is not suitable for the type of buses that we operate.”
Matewere said he was at the new facility in the company of other association members to assess its state of usefulness.
The association has over 30 bus operators as its members.
Speaking on behalf of another bus operator, Matours Bus Services, Bright Kampaundi said while the idea of having an international bus terminal in the capital city is welcome, the challenge is in the hasty implementation of the plan.
“The implementation has been rushed. We don’t understand why,” he said.
A visit to the site established that there are two pit latrines designated for males and females as well as a flash toilet for ladies and gentlemen. The men’s washroom has three urinals and one cubicle for a toilet.
Briefing the media following the protests, Lilongwe City Council chief executive officer Macloud Kadam’manja said the council was approached by Grand Business Park owners who offered their premises for a bus depot and the council accepted.
He said the move would ease traffic congestion in the capital city as big buses were picking and dropping off passengers at undesignated locations due to lack of a proper international bus terminal.
Said Kadam’manja: “However, the arrangement we have made is temporary as the council has plans to construct an international bus terminal and we expect that after completion all bus operators will relocate from the Grand Business Park.”
He said the Ministry of Lands has already provided land in Area 46 for the bus terminal project.
In Blantyre and Lilongwe, luxury coaches have operated without designated points, a situation that has led the operators to use fuel service stations or shopping centre car parks as terminals across the cities.
Earlier this year, Mzuzu City Council launched a designated coach terminal to ensure sanity in the city.
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