SH28 BILLION SET ASIDE FOR RING ROADS IN DAR - DR JOHN MAGUFULI

THE Minister for Works, Dr John Magufuli (centre) on a tour of roads under construction in Dar es Salaam on Monday. On the right is Japanese Ambassador, Masaki Okada, and on the left is Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Said Meck Sadick.

THE Minister for Works, Dr John Magufuli, has said the 2014/15 financial year would see a total of 28bn/- being spent on the construction of 79.9 kilometre- long ring roads in Dar es Salaam.

He was speaking during a one-day visit to the roads under construction on Monday, where he highlighted the government's resolve to see the roads completed to ease traffic jams in the city.

"The money will be used in constructing to tarmac level all ring roads in the city; we want to see that within three years from now, there is no traffic jam in the city," Dr Magufuli commented.

He also revealed that a total of 2bn/- has been set aside to cater for the installation of road lights from Mwenge to Tegeta along Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road.

"We are through with this road; now we want to put lights so that the road can now be used properly," said Dr Magufuli while urging Tegeta residents to adhere to the set laws and guard the roads, which the government has used a lot of money to construct.

At Magomeni Kagera, the minister noted that a total of seven street lights with its poles, 25 road signs and 12 sewerage chamber lids had been stolen along Morogoro Road, which made the Tanzania Roads Agency (Tanroads) postpone the handover of the first phase of the road project.

Also on the tour, Tanroads Chief Executive Officer, Mr Patrick Mfugale, said the road would be handed over to the government by next week as the contractor is under instructions to accomplish the section.

"We cannot go on like this; we told him to accomplish the remaining work and hand it over to us," Mr Mfugale said. Dr Magufuli was accompanied by top ministry's officials, Tanroads officials, Japanese Ambassador, Mr Masaki Okada and other officials.

It was also learnt during the tour that tenders for the construction of the Tazara flyover will be opened in Japan on September 1.

Meanwhile, Mr Magufuli has asked the people who have built houses along the road reserves on the Tegeta-Mbezi section of Bagamoyo Road to vacate to pave way for the construction works.

Parts of the road are undergoing construction to ease the heavy traffic on the road that had slowed movement in recent years. Dr Magufuli said that even as the current contractor hands over the road officially to the government, they would stay on for an extra period of three years with the role of overseeing it.

On the Morogoro Road where a rapid bus road transit system is under construction, the minister explained that it would be built under the one-storeyed system known as 'Interchange.'

On the flyover now undergoing initial preparations at the Tazara junction of Nyerere Road and Mandela Expressway, the minister said construction would start in October.

The Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Saidi Mecki Sadiki, said that in cooperation with the security committee, they would ensure there is discipline in guarding the road infrastructure; including helping the contractors to ensure the safety of their equipment.

Daily News