Reappointed Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Ismail Vadi told members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on Wednesday that, of the R6.15-billion allocated to his department for the 2014/15 fiscal period, some R2-billion would be earmarked for the development of transport infrastructure, in response to Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s call for the modernisation of public transport.

Of the remaining funds, R289-million was allocated to administration costs, R2.1-billion to “transport operations”, R318-million to transport regulations and R1.3-billion to the Gautrain.

During his Budget Vote speech, Vadi said the African National Congress-led provincial government had developed a set of concrete interventions aimed at transforming public transport into an integrated, reliable, accessible, safe and affordable system.

“In the next few years, the full development of an integrated bus rapid transit (BRT) system across the three metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng will become evident. The progress made in respect of Rea Vaya, in Johannesburg, has already changed our people’s perceptions of public transport,” he asserted.

According to Vadi, Phases 1A and 1B of the BRT system now transported over 70 000 passengers on a daily basis and construction work on the next phase between Johannesburg, Sandton and Alexandra had started.

“The first phase of Tshwane’s A re Yeng BRT system will be launched later this year. Work on a similar system in Ekurhuleni has begun and we are looking into the possibility of extending the BRT system to the West Rand,” he noted.

He added that the Gautrain Management Agency was currently examining the feasibility of expanding the Gautrain rail system in seven phases to other parts of the province, while the extended operational times for the Sandton-Airport Gautrain link would be implemented within a month.

The MEC added that he was pleased that Transport Minister Dipuo Peters had recently launched The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s fleet renewal programme, which would see the company acquiring 3 600 new rail coaches over a ten-year period at a cost of R51-billion.

“This Metrorail programme is expected to revitalise the country’s ailing rail engineering industry, transfer technology to South Africa and create economic opportunities for thousands of women, youth and other black-owned enterprises through firm localisation targets,” he said.

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport had, meanwhile, completed a five-year implementation plan for the development of the 25-year Aerotropolis Master Plan, which was currently in the process of approval by the Ekurhuleni municipality.

“Within the next two months, the plan will be discussed with all interested parties in the province. The success of this project depends largely on whether the private sector buys into its economic viability and potential for enterprise growth and development.

“On its part, government has demonstrated its commitment to this project and has the political will to provide the enabling environment for its success,” he noted.

Vadi noted that the ANC government “welcomed” the positive reactions by organs of civil society to the Premier’s establishment of a panel to assess the socioeconomic impact of the e-tolls on the people and economy of Gauteng, but slammed Democratic Alliance MPs Mmusi Maimane and Minnie de Freitas for their “unwarranted attacks” on the Premier and their accusations that the panel was a “charade and a political gimmick”.

He said the department continued to conduct reviews of the progress being made and the challenges experienced since the introduction of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project and e-tolling in Gauteng.

“Through these regular reviews, we have been able to introduce certain relief measures to lessen the burden on users. These would include exemptions for public transport, medical services and people living with disabilities,” he outlined.

The panel would shortly announce its work programme and consultative processes, which would allow the public and interested stakeholders to make an input on the e-toll system.