The Department of Transport is planning to invest more than R70 billion in the country's public transport system and road infrastructure, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe, pictured, said yesterday.
The Department of Transport is planning to invest more than R70 billion in the country's public transport system and road infrastructure, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe, pictured, said yesterday.
"This year, our investment on public transport, from roads to public transport and transport infrastructure, is more than R70 billion, equivalent to a sizeable percentage of our GDP," he said.
Radebe said the ministry's strategy was to reduce congestion and private car dependency by offering an attractive, efficient and reliable public transport system.
By 2020, passenger movements in the cities would be more than double and traffic would grow tremendously.
"We therefore need to rise to the occasion by ensuring increased investment to maintain and improve our public transport system," he said.
Radebe was speaking in Durban at the launch of The People Mover, aimed at delivering a safe, comfortable and reliable transport system.
On Tuesday, Radebe launched the Soweto Business Express, intended to entice affluent groups to use trains. - Sapa