Tanzanian government Keen on roads construction

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The Tanzanian government will start contracting and improving road infrastructure to make sure they are in a better shape at all time, the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication has announced.

These were the remarks were made by the Deputy Minister of Works, Transport and Communication, Eng Edwin Ngonyani, yesterday when he responded to questions from lawmakers. Dr Raphael Chegeni, member for Busega sought to know how much money the government has set aside for road construction in Busega district.

In response, Eng Ngonyani said that in the 5th phase the government has planned to lay tarmac and improve all roads network in the country. He instructed the Tanzania Roads Agency (Tanroads) and the Road Board to make sure they give much priority to areas with when urgent need for roads when Identifying roads to be upgraded saying the government’s objective is to improve all roads across the country.

“It is the responsibility of the Roads board and Tanroads to ensure they prioritize areas with the most urgent needs, because the 5th phase government’s objective is to improve all road networks in the country,” he explained.

He admitted that in the financial year 2014/15, money from the road fund were not enough due to slim revenue collection from the various sources of the fund.

He however told the legislators that in this financial year the situation has been rectified and by March this year; US$211.5 million out of US$396 million had been received by the board of directors of the road fund and transmitted to the Tanzania Roads Agency. He added that they are optimistic the remaining money will be released to construct and rehabilitate the roads in the 2015/2016 budget.

“We expect by June this year, all the remaining fund would have been released for the purpose of rehabilitating and constructing of roads in the 2015/16 budget,” he noted. Eng Ngonyani noted that in the financial year 2015/16 Busega district was allocated US$261000 and by March a total of US$198000had been released which is 75.9 per cent.