Amman-Zarqa BRT project 'strategic' for transport sector

AMMAN — The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project worth JD110 million connecting Amman to Zarqa will be implemented in the near future, Transport Minister Ayman Hatahet said Monday.

The project, which is funded by a grant from Kuwait, will help reduce traffic jams on the highway connecting the two cities and will reduce the transport time for passengers from around 40 minutes to 20-25 minutes, Hatahet said at a gathering held by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Jordan, attended by US Ambassador to Jordan Alice G. Wells.

“This is a very strategic project for the transport sector in Jordan and will be a boost for infrastructure in the country,” said the minister, adding that the project will reduce traffic accidents and protect the environment.

Stressing the importance of the transport sector, which contributes some 8 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product and employs 10 per cent of the labour force, Hatahet said the closure of borders with Syria and Iraq hit the sector hard, expressing hope that the borders will be reopened soon.

The minister added that the government recently signed a deal with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation to secure financing for a JD2 billion project to build a national railway to transport cargo.

Under the deal, the corporation will help Jordan secure soft loans from Chinese companies and will later implement the project.

Hatahet added that the government will go ahead with projects and plans to enhance the competitiveness of the transport sector.

Speaking during the gathering, AmCham-Jordan Chairman Mohammed Bataineh urged the government to find alternative routes and markets for the transport sector.