Assilah’s New Bus Station Struggles to Attract Passengers Despite Traffic Congestion Goals

Inaugurated in February 2020, the bus station in the city of Asilah is struggling to fulfill its mission of reducing congestion on National Road No. 1, improving the connection of the station to the urban transport network and developing the lines connecting it to neighboring cities. And for good reason, the station is facing a series of obstacles that prevent its efficient operation.

Responding to a parliamentary question asked by the deputy of the Authenticity and Modernity Party, Koloub Fatih, on the subject, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics explained that one of the main reasons for this paralysis is the lack of sufficient connections between the station and the city center by means of urban transport. To support its argument, it states that there are neither bus lines nor public transport directly and efficiently connecting the station to the other neighborhoods of the city, making access difficult for travelers.

In addition, most of the buses coming from neighboring cities like Tangier and Tetouan use the highway without stopping at the station, which accentuates its isolation, the ministry said. The lack of intercity transport lines connecting the station to the neighboring areas is one of the main reasons behind this paralysis, it insisted, stressing that the current lines are not enough to meet the needs of travelers, which prevents the station from attracting daily buses and users.

The department of Mohammed Abdeljalil is trying to find a solution to this problem. It has organized several meetings with the parties concerned, in order to discuss ways to improve the connection of the station to the urban transport network and develop the lines connecting it to neighboring cities. They have looked at the possibility of reserving special buses connecting the station to the city center, in order to encourage travelers to use it as part of their journey.

Built on an area of one and a half hectares, at a cost of 44 million dirhams, the bus station in the city of Asilah includes modern equipment such as dedicated bus platforms, ticket offices, prayer rooms and underground parking for cars, in addition to commercial facilities.