BUDGET for infrastructure maintenance in Dodoma Region has increased from 12.7bn/- in 2020/2021 to 66.2bn/- in the current budget, it has been said.

Edward Lemelo, regional manager for Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (Tarura) said this here yesterday when speaking to journalists about the success of his office in the past three years.

Lemelo said the increase in the budget is from the 2021/2022 to 2023/2024 financial year which has increased by 412.77 percent.

He stated that the increase in the budget has helped increase the road network from 171.29 kilometres in 2020/2021 to 309.71 kilometres in 2022/2023.

"Gravel roads have increased from 1,258.65 kilometres in 2020/2021 to 1,827.5 kilometres in 2023/2024, 19 bridges, 45 culverts and 73,822.24 meters long trenches have been built,’ he said.

"About 470 traffic lights have been installed, new roads with a length of 544.60 kilometres have been opened which did not exist at all; this reflects our slogan that we open roads to the unreachable."

He said that the network of roads in good condition has increased from 10 percent in February 2021 to 34.70 percent in March 2024, noting that roads in bad condition have decreased from 60 percent in February 2021 to 31 percent in March 2024.

According to him, during the past three years, Tarura in Dodoma region increased work tools and improved the working environment for employees.

"Eight new vehicles have been purchased and distributed to offices of district and regional managers; road construction equipment have also been purchased and handed over to Chamwino District manager. The purchase of work tools eased the work and increased efficiency of the agency's work," he said.

He said that the number of employees has increased from 69 in 2021 to 84 in 2024, including cadres that previously did not exist such as the internal auditor, economist and community development.

The agency has also implemented some projects, including construction of tarmac roads in the government city measuring 12.6 kilometres, construction of Mwanga - Kisasa - Medelii tarmac road measuring10.7 kilometres and construction of Swaswa - Mpamaa - Arusha road at tarmac level measuring 8.2 kilometres.

He said that the agency has built at tarmac level the Mlimwa roundabout measuring 1.55 kilometres as well as Machinga Market road of 0.6 kilometre and road around Prime Minister's Residence measuring 2 kilometres.