The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has slapped matatu operators and SACCOs with tough rules ahead of the opening of the Green Park Terminus.
In a statement issued by NMS, which is under the headship of Director-General Mohamed Badi, all staff of Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) will be required to have uniforms to access the newly constructed terminus, that sits along Uhuru Highway.
Further, operators will also be required to have badges will help positively identify them with the cards also bearing the name of the SACCO they belong to.
"All staff including drivers, conductors and route marshals will be mandated to have badges with names, photos, badges, and SACCO or company name," read the statement in part.
In addition, NMS has also limited the the number of vehicles per SACCO at the terminus at any given time, capping it to three. Notably, a vehicle will only be allowed a maximum of 20 minutes at what is expected to be a busy terminus within the country's Capital City.
PSVs will be required to strictly adhere to the berths which will be labeled according to the routes. In what appears to be a move to maintain order, passengers will not be allowed to be picked or dropped at non-designated areas.
"All vehicles should adhere to clearly labeled berths. No picking or dropping passengers at non-designated places including the entire stretch of the exit road," NMS wrote.
Notably, express vehicles may be exempted from queueing upon receiving clearance from the management. To ensure full compliance two officials will be posted to support operations at each terminal. Perhaps, what will be the entity's biggest challenge will be keeping off touts as touting will not be allowed. In addition, no repairing of vehicles will be allowed at the terminal, meaning that mechanics should keep off the facility.
NMS has also put in place a code of conduct and set standards as well as regulatory requirements which must be followed to the letter by those accessing the terminus failure to which may lead to being barred from the park.
"Adherence to government policies, law, and regulations is mandatory. Any driver or conductor who violates set rules will be punished, blacklisted and their badges suspended," NMS declared.
The Green Park Terminal is part of the Nairobi city decongestion strategy that seeks to streamline the city's transport sector that has been synonymous with heavy traffic and disorder, yet Nairobi plays a crucial role.
