There have been notable efforts in recent years to introduce technological products in Ethiopia. The launching of mobile phones and the relatively higher use and mainstreaming of other electronic products like ipods, CD players etc deserve a mention in this regard. Flyover roads are also another notable addition to an increased sense of modernization in Addis. A proposed new addition still brewing is the use of trolley buses in the capital. This is Society's point of discussion this week

Blurry images of change

It usually takes a very long time for major public utility technological innovations in use in the developed world to become part of the daily life in our country. Consider how long it took for mobile phones to get here. Even worse, imagine how long it would take for Ethiopia to finally have an underground metro service. Small technological products for private use such as ipods are way easier to adopt.
Recent news on efforts to start the use of trolley buses in Ethiopia could be considered as a move to halt the wide alienation of the country from major technological innovations noticeable in the developed world. Though trolley buses as such are not a fixture in most of the major cities in the western world anymore, they still represent some form of stage in the development of a nation. The technology is becoming obsolete in most parts of the developed world, but it understandably is going to be a phenomenal achievement here grabbing people's attention for quite a time.
The big question here, however, is if this service will be launched recently. Though most people want to be optimistic about it, the fact remains that it needs quite a long time before it materializes. Construction of the trail way, which has not been started yet, would take a considerable duration of time apart from the economic and human resources it calls for. The supply of electricity to run the buses might also be a point of controversy for a system in which things do not normally go smoothly. There might also be policy clashes with the project as the public transport sector in Ethiopia, as the law entails, allows associations and not individual investors to be engaged.
With intricate procedures to ensure the supply of electricity and preparation of trail ways, the process would surely take a long time to be finalized. According to officials of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, various researches on such matters should be done before the physical implementation of the project.
Even though there already is a company making the trolley buses in Ethiopia, it might take longer than expected before we see any of them rolling in our city.

Do you think we will see trolley
buses in action in a short time?

I don't think we will have the chance to have them in our country so soon because of the different projects that we need to give priority to. So not only do I think that it's not possible to see it in use in a short period of time, it's also highly likely that it's seen as irrelevant.

Azeb- sales

Not that soon. I mean it's possible to have them because we have enough electrical capacity but I say not very soon because in my opinion their degree of importance and their value is diminutive.
Samson- Mechanic

I am somewhat of a positive thinker because I believe that we would see the trolley buses very soon or in the short term because nothing is impossible but difficult and if we work hard as much as we are doing at the moment, then I believe that we will be using these buses in a short period of time.

Misrak - Teacher
Technology is a very sophisticated thing and needs to be manipulated with care. If not, the cost that we will have in order to make it all good again not only is it time taking but it is also back breaking economic wise. This is not to say that the use of the buses is farfetched but is something that will take time to establish and put to use so I personally do not think that the buses will be on the market too soon or even shortly.

Muluken- Technician

I don't think we will have them recently because projects of this magnitude do not become a reality in our country under private ownership. I would say the involvement of government would have guaranteed the launching of the new service.

Kaleb - Accountant