The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is making inroads on the major revamp and refurbishment of the Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) buses that were taken off the road in August to improve the safety, reliability and accessibility of the service in NMB communities.
Following months of planning and concluding supply chain processes, NMBM Roads and Transport Mayoral Committee Member, Cllr Bradley Murray conducted an oversight visit on Tuesday, 7 May 2024, to assess the work currently underway and to provide an update to affected residents.
“In August last year, we took a decision to take out the remaining two buses that were on the road after we found that they were not roadworthy, we have a total of 25 buses for the IPTS and we will be fixing all of them. Today we are showcasing and updating the residents on the work that has been done so far, one bus has been completed.”
“We got into a contract with Volvo which took some time, and they are now fixing and maintaining our buses. This was the first bus that went in and they have done a great job, they have refurbished it completely from seats to the tyres. Every button on the bus now works and we are excited, we have two more buses at the workshop and we are planning to take four more buses to the workshop later this week. For the service to run again, we need at least four buses to be roadworthy,” MMC Murray said.
The MMC has called for cooperation between stakeholders to ensure the service is fully operational again. He said the Metro is also in the process to procuring 20 new buses to boost the existing fleet.
“The existing routes will remain as they are for now, we are in negotiations with the taxi industry and it is very fruitful that we open up KwaNobuhle and Kariega routes as well,” MMC Murray added.
The refurbishment work includes extensive upgrades and improvements such as engine and transmission overhaul, enhanced suspension and brake systems for smoother rides and increased safety and the installation of latest safety technology, including collision avoidance systems and improved lighting.
IPTS shareholder, Christian King said beneficiaries were pleased with the latest developments and would support the Metro’s initiatives.
“We are very happy about the intervention of the Municipality, we have all the associations around one table now to try to remedy this situation and to look at how we can make progress to expand the system to Kariega and other areas,” King said.
“Our top priority remains passenger safety. All refurbished buses undergo rigorous testing and inspections to ensure they meet or exceed industry safety standards.
We have new seating and interior design for passenger comfort and accessibility. The other safety measures include updated safety protocols and emergency systems for passenger protection, this also talks to repairs of wheelchair ramps and designated seating areas to accommodate passengers with disabilities. We urge our communities to be more patient with us as we rebuild the system to be safe and sustainable,” the MMC said.
Issued by NMBM Communications Office.
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