DAR ES SALAAM: SERVICE lanes along some of Dar es Salaam’s major roads were noticeably clearer yesterday after authorities enforced measures against illegally parked lorries, easing traffic flow and improving access for motorists and pedestrians.
A Daily News spot check along Mandela and Kilwa roads found that most of the lorries that previously occupied service lanes had been removed, following a directive by Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila.
The commissioner has ordered police, working with the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), to arrest drivers found parking lorries illegally on service roads.
The directive followed the expiry of an ultimatum issued last week, giving cargo truck operators time to remove vehicles parked improperly and contributing to traffic congestion.
Along Mandela Road, areas around Ubungo, External, TANROADS offices, Mwananchi, TOT Tabata, Tabata Reli and Buguruni were largely free of lorries. Some heavy vehicles, however, were still seen parked along roadsides or inside designated yards.
From TAZARA through Veterinary to Sokota, most of the lorries that had previously occupied service lanes had been removed, apart from those actively loading or transporting cargo.
Service roads from Serengeti towards Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium were also largely open, while along Kilwa Road, the area around the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA), which had previously been affected by lorries parked near the college gate, was clear.
Service lanes towards TEC, Kigamboni Junction and the port were similarly accessible to other road users.
Residents welcomed the changes, saying the clear roads had eased movement and improved safety, particularly for pedestrians who previously struggled to use service lanes because of parked lorries.
Mr Mbwana Ally, a resident of the TIA area, said lorries previously parked near the college had created safety concerns for pedestrians.
“The area is now clear, and people are no longer afraid to walk here, even at night. We now feel safer,” he said.
However, residents and transport operators said enforcement alone would not provide a lasting solution unless authorities established adequate parking and holding areas for trucks.
Entrepreneur Mr John Shedrack said the exercise had temporarily cleared the roads but would not address the underlying problem.
He proposed relocating Inland Container Depots (ICDs) to Kwala to decentralise port-related activities from the city centre.
“Relocation would facilitate urban development, improve the flow of public transport and reduce frequent mechanical breakdowns that paralyse local traffic,” he said.
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Mr Ibrahim Abbas, another resident, attributed part of the problem to a shortage of designated parking facilities for transport companies.
He said the challenge was not solely related to ICDs, noting that some drivers waited for permits or carried out vehicle repairs in unauthorised areas.
“These vehicles often remain on the roadside not because of delays at ICDs, but because drivers use public spaces for vehicle maintenance or as temporary waiting zones after clearing customs,” he said.
A bodaboda rider at Mwananchi said enforcement had significantly improved visibility and traffic flow but cautioned that compliance was not yet complete.
He said some operators had simply moved their lorries to the edges of service roads rather than removing them completely.
“There is a difference between the situation before and now. The changes have helped, but compliance is not yet 100 per cent because some trucks have only been moved to the sides of the service roads,” he said.
On the Temeke-Kigamboni route, daladala driver Mr Mohammed Suleiman said keeping service roads clear had improved traffic flow by giving motorists alternative routes when congestion built up on main roads.
“Previously, abandoned vehicles or trucks parked for long periods would block alternative routes, leaving motorists trapped without any way to bypass heavy jams,” he said.
Mr Suleiman urged authorities to make the measures permanent, saying clear service roads would contribute to more efficient commuting.
Truck driver Mr Mustad Salehe said the enforcement had improved road visibility and the city’s appearance.
“The new restrictions have successfully cleared traffic congestion and improved the city’s aesthetics,” he said.
He proposed that the government require ICDs to provide adequate internal parking or relocate truck-intensive facilities to less congested areas outside the city centre.
Tanzania Truck Owners Association (TATOA) Vice-Chairman Mr Rahim Dossa said removing lorries from service roads alone would not permanently solve congestion.
He called for designated holding areas where trucks could wait while awaiting loading, unloading or entry into ports and ICDs, saying such facilities would help keep service roads clear while accommodating the needs of cargo operators.