More than 200 Bishoftu buses owned by Anbessa City Bus Service Enterprise have broken down and stopped providing services, according to the Enterprise. Assembly defects arising from the Metals and Engineering Enterprise was blamed for the failures. The Metals and Engineering Enterprise is responsible for assembling the Bishoftu buses. Unavailability of accessories for the engines in the local market and shortage of foreign exchange have exacerbated the problem.
The Anbessa City Bus Service Enterprise, which was established in 1943 with five military vehicles running only five routes, currently has 460 buses on duty, and serves Addis and 18 other towns. DAF buses which have been operating for around 20 years in the city are also getting old and breaking down.
The enterprise has already floated 278 old vehicles for auction. The other 217 buses are also expected to be disposed.
“At the end of this fiscal year we’ll purchase 700 buses and renew our service,” Ato Alemenew Getnet, general manager of the enterprise, told Fortune.
The enterprise is also said to start a new Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) within the next year. The ITS is being designed with a budget of 29 million dollars. The ITS will provide coordinated, efficient and swift transportation for the users of Anbessa bus.
Leave a Reply