An architect’s impression of the Ubungo Interchange in Dar es Salaam. The project is part of a Sh50 billion infrastructure development that also includes the Tazara Flyover. PHOTO|FILE
What you need to know:
A portion of the budget, however, would be spent on paying outstanding arrears to contractors whose previous road construction projects have been completed.
Dar es Salaam. The government has said it is planning to undertake 62 road construction projects worth Sh1.5 trillion in the 2018/19 financial year to link various districts and regions in the country.
A portion of the budget, however, would be spent on paying outstanding arrears to contractors whose previous road construction projects have been completed. In the 2018/19, the ministry has been allocated a 4.2 trillion budget from which Sh1.5 trillion (35 per cent) is for development expenditure in the works sector.
Out of the total budget, the Transport sector will take a huge amount, totalling Sh2.3 trillion, the Works sector Sh1.8 trillion and 18.8billion is reserved for the Communications sector. Tabling the budget estimates in April, this year, minister of Works, Transport and Communication, Prof Makame Mbarawa, said the ministry would continue with its role in construction and rehabilitation of many roads and bridges to open up opportunities for economic activities.
In the 2018/19 financial year, the 259.7km Manyoni-Itigi to Tabora road has been allocated Sh27.9 billion that will be spent on paying the contractors and finalise the Manyoni-Chanya project that measures 89.3kilometres. Some Sh9 billion has been allocated to pay contactors who worked on the 288-kilometre Kyaka- Kasulo road.
“While Sh23.8 billion is budgeted for construction of a 185 km road from Makutano to Mto wa Mbu in Arusha Region, Sh17 billion is for a 64 km road from Ibanda to Kiwira in Mbeya Region,” according to budget estimates.
Other projects include the rehabilitation of 367km access roads to Rufiji Hydropower Project at a cost of Sh10 billion. They include a 166 km from Ubena-Selous and Kibiti- Selous (201 km). The Marangu- Sanya Juu (330.3 km) has been allocated Sh33.7 billion that will be spent on clearing various arrears with contractors. The same will be applied on the 533km Isaka-Lusahunga road that has been allocated Sh50.4 billion. The government also has set aside Sh24.8 billion, part being payment for contractors of Sumbawanga- Nyakanazi (km75) road and the remaining for completion of the Mpanda- Uvinza road. Another Sh22.1 billion is for construction of 495.9 km roads between Nyanguge-Musoma and the Usagara- Kisorya bypass.
According to the budget, Sh58.2 billion will be spent on construction of the 370km Tabora-Mpanda road at tarmac level. Another Sh8.5 billion is for 162km from Sumbawanga-Kasanga Port roads (112km).
Speaking in Parliament, Mbinga MP Sixtus Mapunda (CCM) said he was impressed by the government’s decision to set aside a Sh61.8 billion budget for Mtwara-Mbambabay (1470 km), saying the project had started yielding fruits for residents of the southern corridor.
He agreed with Parliament’s Infrastructure committee, led by chairman Moshi Kakoso who went further to suggest that budget for development projects should be released on time.
Mr Kakoso (Mpanda rural CCM) asked the government to ensure the money was released on time for effective implementation of the planned projects. Debating the budget, some MPs asked the government to put more emphasis on improving rural roads to smoothen transportation of food and movement of people.
Bridges
All projects on construction of bridges have been allocated a budget Sh46.9 billion. The money would cover payments to contractors of Kilombero and Kavuu bridges as well as rehabilitation of Kirumi Bridge in Mara.
There will be other projects such as new Wami bridge (Coast Region), Selander (Dar es Salaam), Msingi (Singida), Sukuma and Simiyu (Mwanza) as well as carrying out a feasibility study on and design of Kigongo/Busisi bridge in (Mwanza), Mtera (Dodoma) and Lower Malagarasi (Kigoma).
Also, the ministry would proceed with construction of Magara Bridge in Manyara, Sibiti (Singida), Ruhuhu (Ruvuma), Momba (Rukwa/Songwe), Mlalakuwa (Dar es Salaam), Lukuledi (Lindi), Mara (Mara) and Mkenda (Ruvuma).
CCM MPs from Iringa, Cosato Chumi (Mafinga Urban) Venance Mwamoto (Kilolo), Godfrey Mgimwa (Kalenga) Mendard Kigola (Mufindi South) hailed the ministry for allocating Sh8 billion for renovation and construction of various roads between Ruaha Mbuyuni to Mafinga and others in Njombe Region.
Decongesting Dar es Salaam roads
The minister said Sh20.15billion has been allocated to various on-going and new projects both Mbezi.
These include a 9km stretch of Tangibovu-Goba, Madale-Goba (5km), Mbezi Mwisho–Goba (7km), Mbezi- Msigani (2km), Kimara Baruti – Msewe – Changanyikeni (2.6km), Kimara – Kilungule – Majichumvi (6km) Kibamba – Mloganzila (4km) and Goba - Makongo (4km).
The ministry would also continue with the construction of a 27km road from Mjimwema- Kimbiji, Mloganzila – Mloganzila Citizen (km 4km) and Maji Chumvi – Chang’ombe – Barakuda (2.5km).
Moreover, the ministry would finalise the construction of Tazara Flyover and continue with construction of Ubungo interchange as well as finalise a feasibly study on other intersections in the city. Sh50.8 billion has been set aside for the projects.
Also the government will continue with construction of phase II, III and IV of the Dar es Salaam Rapid Bus System (DART) that has been allocated Sh46.8 billion.
The project that will cover 20.3 km will run along Kilwa road, Kawawa, Sokoine, Gerezani, Bandari and Chang’ombe. Upon completion it is expected to reduce travel time by 15-20 minutes, from the current of 60-90 minutes.
“The third phase will be carried out along Nyerere Uhuru, Bibi Titi, Azikiwe and Lindi roads covering 23.6 km and 25.9 km of phase four that will be carried out on Sam Nujoma and Bagamoyo roads,” said Prof Mbarawa in his budget speech.
Also, Sh9.3 billion will be spent on paying for consultation on the Dar es Salaam-Chalinze expressway (144km), designs for rehabilitation of Mororogo-Dodoma road (260 km) and Mlandizi- Chalinze road (44 km).
Ubungo MP (Chadema) Saed Kubenea faulted the decision by Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) in Dar es Salaam to demolish houses at Kimara and Mbezi along Morogoro road despite a court injunction.
“We are not against the project but the process, our laws should be observed by compensating those who were not anything the road reserved area, he said and being echoed by his Mikumi counterpart, Joseph Haule (Chadema).
Debating the budget, Mtwara rural MP, (CCM) Hawa Ghasia expressed her concern over the budget saying it was little for some projects in the southern zone.
“There is a need to construct a tarmac road from Mtwara to Kilambo that connect to the border country, Mozambique to stimulate business interaction and business activities between the two countries,” She said.
In the next year, the government would also continue with preparations for construction of 104km outer ring road from Mtumba via Veyula, Nala, Matumbulu to Mtumba and other roads in Dodoma city at a budget of Sh5 billion.
Prof Mbarawa also mentioned Development Corridors Transport Project (DCTP) which is funded by the World Bank. They are Makambako-Songea (295km), Mtwara Masasi via Mingoyo (200km), Iringa-Ruaha National Park (104km) and the 92km of Rusumo-Lusahunga road.
