The construction of major highway in Tanzania is set to start in next fiscal year, the government of Tanzania has announced. The 242 kilometre highway connects Tanga City to Bagamoyo town.
The minister for Works, Transport and Communication, Prof Makame Mbarawa said this in his recent visit to Tanga Region where he carried out inspection on projects that are under his ministry’s jurisdiction.
The process of upgrading of the highway to tarmac level will be done concurrently to the construction of a bridge over the Pangani River. He said the road construction is part of the East African Road Project and will extent to Bagamoyo the branch to Mombasa and Malindi along Kenya’s coastline.
The minister said, “The Tanga-Saadani Road is being rehabilitated under the East African Road Project and will extend to Bagamoyo, then onto Malindi and Mombasa on the Kenyan side through the Horohoro border post.” The minister added that design for the project is ready and they would soon embark on the process of selecting the contractor to undertake the project.
Prof Mbarawa further cautioned residents that compensation of those affected by the project would be paid only to those whose with genuine cases and whose homes have been earmarked for demolition along the highway.
He added that houses that have not been earmarked for demolition will not be compensated for and the owners should not waste their time and resources pleading with the government.
The minister carried out inspection on the wharfage that is under construction at  the Pangani port and told the government officials who had accompanied him that he would soon appoint a team of experts to undertake a fresh assessment of the real cost of the structures, estimated at US$1 billion.
He however expressed fears that the costs may have been inflated to benefit some dishonest officials.
