Project aims to ease congestion, enhance safety, and promote sustainable urban mobility in Kigali.

KIGALI, Rwanda (BG) – The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $100 million loan to Rwanda to implement the “Kigali Urban Transport Improvement Project,” aimed at addressing urban mobility challenges in the capital city, the bank announced on Wednesday.

Kigali has been experiencing growing traffic congestion, with long queues at major junctions disrupting travel and increasing operating costs. According to the AfDB, the project will focus on enhancing road transport mobility’s efficiency, inclusivity, and safety while promoting sustainable urban transport solutions.

“The project will focus on improving three of the seven crucial junctions identified as bottlenecks to have more efficient, sustainable and user-friendly urban transport infrastructure,” explained Aïssa Touré Sarr, the AfDB’s Country Manager for Rwanda.

The initiative agreed upon at the AfDB’s headquarters in Abidjan on Dec. 2, includes constructing prioritised junctions with provisions for public transport (bus lanes) and non-motorised traffic.

The project involves upgrading bus stops and building safe, well-lit public transport stations to accommodate all citizens, including nursing mothers, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.

Pavements and pedestrian crossings will also be installed to enhance mobility and safety for all road users.

The project aims to pave the way for a low-carbon urban transport system. “The investments should make it possible to mitigate the current and future challenges of urban mobility in Kigali and pave the way for a just transition to a more sustainable and efficient urban transport system,” Sarr added.

Kigali, with a population of 1.7 million, is expected to grow to 3.8 million by 2050, highlighting the urgency of addressing its transportation challenges.