With plans of decongesting the Nairobi CBD in mind, the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has been working on the Green Park terminus, a terminus that will act as a pick up and drop off point for matatus. However, its commissioning has been delayed since December last year. Now, Kenyans can at least see progress as the NMS recently conducted a test run and also stated its plan to charge service fees to run operations of the terminus.
NMS carried its three-hour test at the terminus, which is located at the former Lunar park, last month. According to General Major General Mohamed Badi, NMS Director, the test was meant to assess the level of preparedness of all stakeholders ahead of commissioning of the facility. On the other hand, the NMS has made it public that those looking to use the terminus for business purposes will have to part with a fee.
Apart from the police post and the two ablution blocks already at the terminus, the area is set to also host a business centre, dispensary, supermarket, restaurant, and a sitting bay. The NMS plans to attract many businesses with these amenities and levy a token fee from them in order to do business at the terminus as well as charge them for advertisement spaces. In doing so, the NMS looks to avoid running the venture as a commercial enterprise and instead use the fee collected to maintain and sustain the terminus in high standards.
Not only will the levies pay for cleaning, fumigation, security services but also, they will be key in helping in any expenses to run the terminus. According to Michael Ochieng, NMS Transport and Public Works Director Engineer, the money collected will be used to maintain the Sh200 million bus station that will serve as a drop-off and pick-up point for matatus plying the Ngong and Lang’ata routes as part of the wider Nairobi CBD decongestion strategy.
The Green Park terminus is among six other bus termini that are currently being constructed by NMS. NMS is already working on the Workshop Road terminus that is located between Workshop next to Neno Evangelism Centre and Bunyala road.
