By Happy Lazaro and Staff Reporter
http://www.arushatimes.co.tz Arusha’s town roads spotting telltale potholes for the past three decades will by the end of January next year be paved and smooth to drive on save for the menace of hawkers.
Twenty seven roads, some of which only about 0.2 kilometres long are currently being rehabilitated, thanks to a fund from the World Bank.
Rehabilitation of the roads which started mid last year has gained pace after the intervention of regional authorities last month who were disturbed by the slow implementation of the long overdue road reconstruction project.
Arusha’s District Commissioner John Mongella said at the end of last week that he was now satisfied with the speed the construction work is being undertaken by the Chinese Construction Company.
A new bridge over Themi River to allow traffic flow from Unga
Limited to Themi and Njiro areas. (Photo by Raymond John)
Last month regional and district authorities held a meeting with the roads contractor and consultants during which they brainstormed on the challenges being faced in rehabilitating the awfully dilapidated roads. After the meeting the contractors went back to work with vigour and there are now indications that the roads works would be completed by January next year.
Residents and owners of businesses along the roads which are being reconstructed had aired their complaints on the sluggishness of the contractors saying that they were inconsiderate to the people in the area.
A visit by reporters of this newspaper to roads under construction in Kaloleni saw sewage overflowing in streets after damage caused by heavy equipment being used by the contractors on the dilapidated sewage sysyem . People walking along the streets were actually forced to wade in the stinking human effluent.
The Regional and District inspection team last week visited the Afrika ya Mashariki road being rehabilitated by a local company. Works are now at an advanced stage and the road will soon be handed over to the clients. The team also visited construction site of a bridge across Themi River that will link Unga Limited and Themi areas. The road has now been christened Colonel Ndomba road.
The District Commissioner directed Colonel Ndomba road construction consultant Yohakim Mbwale to liaise with TANESCO to ensure that power lines along the road are removed immediately to allow construction of the vital road. The urban roads are being constructed by a Chinese Company by the name of CRGG China Services who have often complained about TANESCO for causing construction work delay by not relocating power poles in time.
But many people still believe that the roads will remain impassable after rehabilitation as the city authorities have to a large extent “allowed” hawkers to peddle their wares even on the middle of some of the urban roads especially around the Central market.
Residents and owners of businesses along the roads which are being reconstructed had aired their complaints on the sluggishness of the contractors saying that they were inconsiderate to the people in the area.
A visit by reporters of this newspaper to roads under construction in Kaloleni saw sewage overflowing in streets after damage caused by heavy equipment being used by the contractors on the dilapidated sewage sysyem . People walking along the streets were actually forced to wade in the stinking human effluent.
The Regional and District inspection team last week visited the Afrika ya Mashariki road being rehabilitated by a local company. Works are now at an advanced stage and the road will soon be handed over to the clients. The team also visited construction site of a bridge across Themi River that will link Unga Limited and Themi areas. The road has now been christened Colonel Ndomba road.
The District Commissioner directed Colonel Ndomba road construction consultant Yohakim Mbwale to liaise with TANESCO to ensure that power lines along the road are removed immediately to allow construction of the vital road. The urban roads are being constructed by a Chinese Company by the name of CRGG China Services who have often complained about TANESCO for causing construction work delay by not relocating power poles in time.
But many people still believe that the roads will remain impassable after rehabilitation as the city authorities have to a large extent “allowed” hawkers to peddle their wares even on the middle of some of the urban roads especially around the Central market.
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