Gabon’s Transport Minister Léon Armel Bounda Balonzi has launched the activities of Trans’Urb, the public bus company that will facilitate transportation of people in major cities of the country.
The emergence of the new company is telling testimony of the promise made by the President Ali Bongo Ondimba who guaranteed free land transport by bus for all, which is one of the measures taken to fight the spread of Covid-19.
The Director General of Trans’Urb, Joël Lehman Sandoungout reveals that, the company will gradually put 285 buses into service, including 185 of the Coaster type, in the municipalities of Libreville, Akanda and Owendo.
Until the end of the pandemic during which transport will be free, Trans’Urb will use the pickup and dropping points of the Gabonese Transport Company (SOGATRA), currently in financial difficulties.
A cooperation protocol (for technical assistance, maintenance and governance) was signed on November 6, 2019 in Libreville, between the Gabonese government and the Autonomous “Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens” (RATP), represented by its Director General Thibault De Lambert.
This cooperation protocol according to the Gabonese Ministry of Transport, Equipment, Infrastructures and Public Works “provides for a mobility plan with the definition of the lines and bus stops to be served; an operation and maintenance plan; a training program for mechanics and driver-receivers; a ticketing and revenue security system.” The company was created in June 2019
