Amman: On the occasion of Amman City Day, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh launched Thursday the first bus rides of the second phase of the Amman Bus Project from the Sweileh passenger station.
Khasawneh emphasized the importance of this and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in enhancing public transportation and decreasing gridlock in Amman.
The prime minister added that progress on the project should be maintained and expanded upon so that citizens can use modern modes of transportation.
The prime minister also toured the Sweileh station, where he was given an update on the project’s development and services by GAM Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh.
The second phase of the Amman Bus Project saw the introduction of 136 new buses into service, bringing the total number of environment-friendly busses to 271.
Midway through 2019, the municipality began running 135 buses as part of the first phase of the project, and in the three years since then, they have transported over 26 million passengers.
The buses will run on set schedules, operating for a total of 16 hours each day (from 6 AM to 10 PM), with no fares for seniors and an accessible interior for the mobility of people with disabilities.
The length of Amman’s bus system is now 870 kilometers, up from 480 kilometers. The first and second phases will be operated under a JD125 million contract for the next five years.
In addition to the initial investment of JD23 million for the buses, the GAM anticipates making passenger discounts during the five years totaling an estimated JD75 million.
Elsewhere, the prime minister also visited the site of the Jordan Gate Towers project, where work has resumed after being halted in 2011. He emphasized that the project should be completed as quickly as possible, but still to the highest standards, and without delays.
Khasawneh pointed out that the project is up and running again after GAM bought a 31-percent stake from the project’s owner.
Source: Jordan News Agency