The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality will start work on the KwaNobuhle to Uitenhage CBD’s Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) route before the end of the 2018/2019 financial year.
This comes after a majority of councillors agreed to forge ahead with the last phase of the four routes as it was ready.
The plan was, however, rejected by the DA who said the move flouted council processes.
But infrastructure and engineering portfolio head Andile Lungisa said work on the Njoli route would not be stopped.
Meanwhile, the budget and treasury department warned that implementing all the routes in one financial year could lead to a property rates increase of 3.5%.
This would be to cover the estimated direct operating cost of about R66m that would be required. Roads and transport committee chair Rosie Daaminds speaking at Thursday's council meeting said engagements with the taxi associations in the Uitenhage area were ongoing.
“It is the taxi drivers who want this, Njoli is not ready but Uitenhage is ready," Daaminds said.
Daaminds denied claims that the plan had not been presented to the roads and transport committee.
Infrastructure and engineering boss Walter Shaidi wrote in a report that bus platforms between the proposed main route of KwaNobuhle and the Uitenhage CBD had already been constructed.
“Sites have been identified and concept designs have been completed for a terminal and depot in KwaNobuhle,” Shaidi said. Nelson Mandela Bay regional taxi association general secretary Andile Andries said they welcomed the move.
He said the association represented about 10 taxi organisations in the metro. “This was discussed with us and we welcome this. We have been waiting for a very long time.”
Andries said they were yet to discuss operational matters with the municipality.
“The people in Uitenhage need this and it will help them,” he said.
DA councillor Kabelo Mogatosi said agreeing to the change of plans would be seen as a deviation from government legislation.
“The National Treasury was here to make sure we don't go back to where money was lost and unaccounted for."
Mogatosi argued that readiness for a project did not depend solely on infrastructure.
"The IPTS is one of the thorniest issues in Nelson Mandela Bay. There is R2.5bn unaccounted for.
"We have officials and politicians who are often visited by the Hawks," Mogatosi said.
"If this was about infrastructure being ready, we would have the CBD and Summerstrand route already.”
After launching the Uitenhage route, the municipality will proceed with Summerstrand before moving to the Njoli route.