Revenue from Aayalolo buses could increase by as much as 45% if dedicated lanes are introduced during peak hours, according to the Director of Transport at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Alex Johnson.
He said the move could also reduce the cost of operating the buses by about 30%, as they would spend less time in traffic and be able to make more trips.
Speaking during an interview, Mr Johnson said heavy traffic was making it more expensive to operate Aayalolo services while also reducing the number of trips the buses could complete.
“The implication for operations is that the cost of operations increases by 30% when you are stuck in traffic. Then you are losing time; that’s a different parameter. Then every other thing that compounds on top of that,” he said.
He said allowing Aayalolo buses to use dedicated lanes would help them move faster, operate more efficiently and generate more revenue than when they use regular traffic lanes.
“Your revenue will increase 45% from comparatively if you run in a simple and regular traffic lane,” he added.
Mr Johnson said the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE) had collected enough data over the years to support the introduction of dedicated bus lanes.
“We think that we have the measurement parameters now to argue for dedicated lanes for buses,” he stated.
His comments follow a proposal by the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, to introduce dedicated lanes for Aayalolo buses during peak hours.
The proposal is aimed at making public transport more efficient, reducing delays caused by traffic congestion and providing commuters with more reliable Aayalolo services.
