By Desmond Gbeleh Wion
Monrovia – The head of the National Transit Authority (NTA), Hon. Edmond Ford Ford, says new buses will soon come into the country to help make transportation better for the Liberian people. He spoke at the regular Thursday press conference held by the Ministry of Information in Monrovia.
Hon. Ford said the buses are coming from India and are part of the government’s plan to fix the transportation system and make it easier for people to move around in Monrovia and other parts of the country.
He said the buses will arrive in July this year. The NTA is now getting ready to bring them into the system quickly so that people can start using them. The new buses will come with better seats and safety tools to help make riding safe for everyone.
“These buses are coming because President Joseph Nyuma Boakai wants to give the people good and safe transport. We want school-going children, workers, and market women to have a better way to move around,” Hon. Ford said.
The NTA boss said the new fleet will include 30 big buses that carry 62 passengers each, 20 smaller buses that carry 18 people, and 5 cargo trucks. The total cost is about US$3.9 million. So far, US$500,000 has already been paid to start the process.
He said the cargo trucks will help market women carry their goods at a fair cost, and the small buses will help carry students to school. The big buses will be used for long-distance travel across the country.
Hon. Ford said they are also working on improving the safety of passengers by setting up a new department for health and safety at the NTA.
He said the buses will not only be used in Monrovia but will also go to other counties to reduce overcrowding and long waiting time.
The new buses are being bought through a deal with a Liberian company called ABK Cooperation. That company is helping to pay for the buses up front, while the government plans to pay back the money within two years.
The Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) has already approved the process, and Hon. Ford said everything is on track for the buses to arrive on time.
Some citizens who heard the news said they are happy about the move. They said if the buses come and are used the right way, it will help a lot of people who depend on public transport every day.
Hon. Ford ended by saying the NTA will continue training its staff and fixing its routes to make sure the buses work well when they arrive.
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