Budget for expanding road networks

DODOMA: OVER 95 per cent of the 2024/25 budget of the Ministry of Works will be spent on development projects, mainly the construction of roads and bridges countrywide as the government focuses on opening up regions and districts.

Tabling the ministry’s budget in Parliament, yesterday, Minister Innocent Bashungwa sought the endorsement of a total of 1.769tri/-, out of which 1.687tri/- is for the development budget and 81.4bn/- for recurrent, a 22.13 per cent increase from the previous budget.

For the development budget, 1.141tri/- will be sourced locally while the remaining 546bn/- from donors.

“The ministry has planned to continue implementing various projects of roads and bridges during the 2024/25 fiscal year,” Mr Bashungwa affirmed.

Mentioning some of the key projects set for implementation, he said the government will start construction of the strategic project of Jangwani Bridge which is part of the Msimbazi Basin Development Project.

The project will transform the flood-prone but economically important lower Msimbazi River Basin of Dar es Salaam through a set of integrated investments.

The tender process for acquiring a contractor and consultant engineer was ongoing, the minister informed.

Mr Bashungwa revealed that the government will construct the roads of Soni – Bumbuli – Dindira – Korogwe (74km), Old Korogwe – Kwamndolwa –Magoma – Mashewa – Bombomtoni – Mabokweni (127.69km), Mtwara – Newala – Masasi (210km), Mnivata – Mitesa (100km), Mitesa–Masasi (60km), Namichiga – Ruangwa (20.3km), Magamba–Madimba – Msimbati (35km), Mtama –Tandahimba (5km), Likuyufusi – Mkenda (122.50km), Nachingwea – Liwale (130km), Ubena Zomozi – Ngerengere (11.6km),TAMCO – Vikawe – Mapinga (24km).

Other roads earmarked for construction are Makofia – Mlandizi (36.7km), Musoma – Makojo – Busekela (92km), Musoma – Kusenyi (40km), Kongwa Jct –Ngambi – Mpwapwa (32km), Mpwapwa – Gulwe – Kibakwe (46.9km), Muhutwe – Kamachumu – Muleba (54km), Iringa – Ruaha National Park (104km), Iringa (Ipogolo) – Kilolo (33.2km), Muheza – Amani (36km), Mtwara – Mingoyo – Masasi ( 200.51km), Mtwara –Mingoyo (82.27km) and Mingoyo – Nanganga – Masasi (118.24km), Kibaoni – Majimoto – Muze –Kilyamatundu (189km), Ntendo – Kizungu (25km), Kibaoni – Usevya (5km) and Kizungu – Muze (12km).

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The minister also stated that 2.75bn/- has been allocated for starting maintenance on the Morogoro– Dodoma (260km) road.

On the other hand, Mr Bashungwa also cited some bridge construction projects, which would include continuing building the Kigongo – Busisi (J.P. Magufuli) Bridge and its linking roads.

A total of 71.9m/- has been set aside for completing construction of this bridge and its connecting roads.

Others are Mzinga Bridge on Mbagala Rangi Tatu – Kongowe road in Dar es Salaam, Ugalla Bridge in Katavi Region, Kitengule Bridge and Mkundi Bridge on Morogoro – Dodoma Road.

“A total of 10bn/- has been set aside for paying part of the debts that the government owes the contractor implementing the New Wami Bridge located on Chalinze – Segera Road,” he pointed out.

Mr Bashungwa noted that the proposed budget for next year has been prepared by considering nine priorities of the ministry.

He said the priorities include the construction of road infrastructures and bridges that were damaged by the El Nino rains and Hidaya Tropical Cyclone as well as continuing with the implementation of ongoing projects which involve constructing the strategic roads for opening up economic opportunities such as tourism, agriculture, mining, ports, industries etc.

This will also include completing the construction of airports of Msalato, Geita, Kigoma, Tabora, Songwe, Mtwara, Sumbawanga, Shinyanga, Iringa, Musoma, Songea, Tanga and Lake Manyara.

Other priorities are to go ahead in the construction of roads and bridges using local contractors by 100 per cent and ensuring that roads are passable throughout the year, building capacity in the TANROADS Engineering Consulting Unit (TECU), reviewing the works policy (2003) and National Policy on Road Safety (2009) together with various regulations and guidelines in the works sector so as to align them with technological changes and climate change.

Furthermore, the ministry will continue building capacity among local experts through different programmes to make them more capable in supervising big projects and strengthening Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems while focusing on using low-cost technology in roads construction.

When presenting a report of the Infrastructure Development Parliamentary Committee, chairperson Selemani Kakoso said the committee was satisfied with the trend of financing development projects.

“In three years, the committee has witnessed that a chunk of the works sector budget was disbursed timely. The committee was informed that the received funds implemented various activities,” Mr Kakoso said.

The committee said during the 2023/24, the ministry constructed and repaired roads and bridges, including the BRT infrastructures in Dar es Salaam.

Also, the construction, repairing and expansion of airports, purchasing new ferries while building and doing maintenance to others.

The committee advised the government to heighten efficiency and productivity in work performance so as to improve services in the sector for the betterment of the country’s economy.

“The government should ensure that services offered by its institutions are better to meet the expectations of the stakeholders in the sector,” Mr Kakoso stressed.

The committee also advised the government to effectively supervise the implementation of its projects for sustainability and value for money.