BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) yesterday opened the phase 1A of Egodini Mall taxi rank and informal trading stalls after the completion of the stage last week.
The developments at the long-awaited project were revealed by town clerk Christopher Dube in a notice to stakeholders and residents over the weekend.
The BCC on October 11, 2012 contracted Terracota to redesign Basch Street terminus, known as Egodini, and turn it into a multi-purpose mall under a build, operate and transfer arrangement.
The company projected a total investment of US$60 million for the project.
However, the project has taken almost 11 years to complete since the tender was awarded to the firm, with residents unimpressed by the slow pace at the project site.
The company failed to meet deadlines amid complaints and calls by the residents for the council to cancel the contract and re-tender the project.
In the notice, Dube said: “The City of Bulawayo would like to advise members of the public that the redevelopment of phase 1A (taxi rank and informal trading stalls) of Egodini Mall project is complete.”
He also revealed that commuter omnibuses would start using Egodini rank starting from yesterday, with commuters from Cowdray Park, Luveve, Entumbane, Emakhandeni, Gwabalanda and Mpopoma using the terminus.
SOURCE ; SOUTHERN EYE
