Mayor of Amman: “The Bus Rapid Transit” is quite an achievement in the development of public transport in the Capital

Mayor of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), Omar Maani, said that the project of the high frequency buses (rapid bus) is quite an achievement in the development of the public transport matrix in the Capital, and a safe and organized mode of transportation to tackle the traffic congestions.

He further added in a discussion panel organized by the Jordanian European Business Association (JEBA) that the public transportation sector in the city of Amman is to witness a qualitative leap in the few coming years, pointing out that the citizen is soon to feel this development in all aspects of the public transport matrix, be they movement mechanism, buses, pavements, or modern parking lots.

The Mayor maintained that the project is to be implemented on three axes: The First starts in Sweileh and ends up in Al-Mahattah, passing through the University of Jordan, the Sports City, and the Streets of Al-Shaheed and Al-Istiklal; The Second starts at Jordan Museum near GAM Headquarters in Ras Al-Ein and ends up in the Sports City, passing through Princess Basma street and Fifth Circle; whereas the third starts at Al-Mahattah and ends up at Al-Jumrok Circle, passing through Al-Yarmouk Street, and Al- Sharq Al-Awsat Square.

According to Maani, the project is distinguished for its modern electronic payment system which should enable the passengers to pay before boarding the bus, and an information system about times of arrivals and trips planning service.

He pointed out that the percentage of using public transport in the Capital does not exceed 14% whereas fuel costs 750 million JOD and traffic congestions costing 850 million JOD. The Mayor sees these figures as a big challenge to concocting modern solutions through developing a new comprehensive public transportation matrix.

Engineer Maani, during the panel which was attended by a number of European ambassadors , attachés, and businessmen, touched upon the light train, the first phase of which is to kick off at Al-Abdali Region, and the second shall take place at the Public Gardens, anticipating that its preliminary studies shall be finished before the end of the current year, to be eventually tendered for investment in 2011.

The GAM official mentioned that the Municipality shall execute, within its plans to improve the traffic status in the Capital, the car parks management project, scheduled to kick start in Al-Sweifiyeh, Jabal Al-Hussein, Al-Shmeisani, and Al-Khaldi Neighborhood with the aim of qualifying sidewalks, pedestrian passageways, which shall eventually end up facilitating traffic flow and lessening haphazard parking and stoppage.

On his part the Chairman of the Committee (JEBA), Issa Murad commented on this issue stating that the availability of the proper infrastructure which meets the requirements of globalization in the Kingdom, that which constituted a vivid model to be followed, made the service sector, in its comprehensive concepts, one of the biggest contributors to the gross domestic income with approximately 70% through employing investment capitals, and creating awareness among investors towards the service sector opportunities.

He further added that the service sector is currently witnessing a remarkable development crystallized through the distinguished services rendered by GAM, and through its initiatives that are launched to serve the society, take care of the human dimension,  the ideal investment of resources, and building partnerships with the concerned parties. He then went on enumerating the development projects GAM has undertaken such as management of solid waste, urban constructional projects, Amman Commercial Fair, National Museum, and the car parks.

He further pointed out to the financial aid the national service sector receives from the EU through the program of modernizing and upgrading( the same sector) which specifically aims at promoting the proficiency of local companies and institutions, maximizing their competitive capacity, and helping them face up to the challenges and ramifications of the world economic crises.

Mr. Murad also added that the EU financial program aims at building the capacity of and modernizing and developing the small and medium sized institutions operating in the service sector , in addition to maximizing their competitive capacities; the local and international markets, all the way through to the end result: developing and diversifying Jordanian experts in the respective markets, and intensifying the benefits of the available opportunities in the various, free trade agreements. Murad also touched upon the facilities made available to the service sector, i.e. Jordan’s seizing the opportunity of the Free Trade Agreement which contributed to eradicating restrictive on a number of service sectors such as financial services, tourism, air and maritime transport, education, in addition to freeing the service sector itself.

From his end, the Executive Director of the Jordanian Association for the Development of Economical Projects, Engineer Ya’rob Al Qdah, commended the support extended by the EU to the Jordanian economy, pointing out, in this context, to establishing eight business incubators, and two risk capital funds with 30 million JOD’s, in addition to the support given to the service sector.

Engineer Qdah delineated that the service sector represents an edge for the Jordanian economy, and enjoys great importance, pointing out that this sector has contributed to the gross domestic income by 70% towards the end of last year.

On his part, the Chargé d'Affaires of the EU Commission in Jordan, Spiras Boltandrivtus, reviewed the advantages of the Jordanian European Partnership Agreement, and its reflections on the commercial trade volume, especially in regards to the European imports from Jordan.

He further stressed that the EU gives the transport issue in Jordan utmost importance, as a number of European countries extended grants and soft loans to develop the transport sector, particularly the initiatives launched by GAM.

It is worth mentioning in this regard that GAM, in its pursuit of implementing the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has obtained a loan from the French Development Agency, namely 166 million USD with soft terms and conditions for twenty years, and with a grace period of five years.

It is also worthy to note that JEBA was founded in 1995 as a non-profit society, attracting businessmen residing in Jordan and Europe to its membership, and aims at developing joint cooperation between the private sector in both sides, with special concentration on export, investment, and joint ventures in the sectors of industry, commerce, and services.