The feasibility study on construction of flyovers at Ubungo and Tazara in Dar es Salaam has started. The move is aimed at addressing traffic jams, which are said to be costing the economy 4bn/- daily.The Minister for Works, Dr John Magufuli, told the National Assembly on Monday the ministry was also planning to introduce weigh in motion technology which will help ease congestion at weigh bridges, as weight of vehicles are to be recorded while in motion.
"Feasibility study for Tazara flyover started last June with funding from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). The government has also submitted a request for Ubungo flyover to Japanese government through JICA to assist with construction," Dr Magufuli said.He said several measures have been drawn up including upgrading of feeder roads to help address the commercial capital's perennial traffic jams problem, while stressing that punitive actions would continue to be meted on rogue drivers and other road users.
Dr Magufuli said some 31.75 kilometres of feeder roads in the city were currently under construction to bitumen level while an extra 43 kilometres have already been scientifically analysed and that funding to upgrade them is being sought. "Feasibility study for 11.6 kilometres of Kimara Baruti to Msewe and Changanyikeni (2.6km) and Kimara, Kilungule to External along Mandela road (9km) is underway and will be ready this financial year," Dr Magufuli said.
Other measures to address congestion include investment in Dar es Salaam Rapid Transport project with the construction of depots at Ubungo, Jangwani, Kivukoni and Kariakoo. According to the budget estimates speech, over 5bn/- has been set aside to improve infrastructure in Dar es Salaam during the year.Dr Magufuli also said other projects to address congestion in the city include introduction of commuter train services between the city centre and the suburbs, boat services from Bagamoyo, Tegeta, Kunduchi and the city centre.
But the over 1.49trn/- budget has also targeted several other trunk roads, bridges, feeder roads countrywide as the government targets to increase tarmac roads from the current 6,500 kilometres to over 11,000kms in the next five years.Debating the Works Ministry's budget estimates, Shadow Minister for Works, Mr Salvatory Machemli (Chadema Ukerewe) and Vice- Chairperson of Parliamentary Infrastructure Committee, Ms Anne Kilango Malecela (CCM Same East) urged the government to seriously address the problem of congestion on the city's roads.
"Because of an estimated 4bn/- loss daily to traffic jams, the country is losing over 1.44trn/- per annum which is equal to the Ministry of Works budget," Ms Kilango-Malecela said while pointing out that the Committee suggests that Dar es Salaam transport system be under one administration to avoid confusion.The Committee suggested that the government should start considering initiating a project dubbed Highway cum Industrial Corridor which will be a Dar es Salaam city bypass which will stretch from Bagamoyo to Kibaha, Kisarawe and end at Kigamboni.
In his presentation, the Shadow Minister, Mr Machemli, questioned why Magufuli's budget has allocated more money for the construction of senior government officials and cabinet ministers' residences in Dar es Salaam instead of the designated capital, Dodoma."The opposition would like to get responses as to why the ministry has requested money to construct 47 houses of which 28 will be built in Dar es Salaam while only two in Dodoma?" he wondered.
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