BY WARYOBA YANKAMI
4th October 2013
The systems are advanced applications which, without embodying intelligence as such, aim to provide innovative services relating to different modes of transport and traffic management and enable various users to be better informed and make safer, more coordinated, and 'smarter' use of transport networks.
Speaking to The Guardian recently in Dar es Salaam in an exclusive interview, Eight Japan Engineering Consultant (EJEC) Director for International Department, Atsuyuki Nakaseko said ITS devices willwork perfectly with the rapid commuter buses.
He said in the next five years Dar es Salaam population will double, something that will require sufficient and effective transportation.
Nakaseko noted that roads alone without ITS cannot reduce traffic congestion, adding that the devices are common in highly populated cities like Tokyo.
He explained that ITS work by directing and informing motorists about the congestion status of roads as well as in cases of accidents, so that they divert to less congested roads.
He noted that Dar es Salaam being a business capital attracts lots of people from inside and outside the country, saying it was vital to ensure it had effective transportation.
“The Tanzanian government is doing well in road infrastructure including the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART) which will help reduce congestion. However it will work better when alternative systems like the ITS are employed,” he said.
For his part, EJEC General Manager in Tanzania, Tatsumi Tokunaga said his company is planning on cooperating with local engineering consultants so as to attract more investors in the country.
EJEC through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has managed to implement various projects including capacity strengthening of Appropriate Technology Training Institute (ATTI) in Mbeya, which was the only institute that provided training on Labour Based Technology (LBT) in Tanzania between 2006 and 2010.
Another project currently being implemented by EJEC is Rural Roads Maintenance System Development (RMSD) in Dodoma and Iringa.
However, EJEC through the preparation of Japan’s grant aid project has completed basic design and survey of the project for improvement of Tazara intersection, together with Oriental Consultant Company and International Developing Centre of Japan (IDCJ).
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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