SHORTCOMINGS identified in the construction of the bus rapid transit (BRT) infrastructure in Dar es Salaam have –propelled Works minister Abdallah Ulega to instruct permanent secretary Aisha Amour to closely monitor what the contractors are doing.

He issued these directives during an inspection tour of the project yesterday, demanding that the work be conducted on a day and night basis to ensure the timely completion of the project, to alleviate traffic congestion in the city.

He instructed the Sichuan Road and Bridge Group, working on the Ubungo - Kimara road to increase the number of professionals and workers on-site and to install night time lighting to ensure the project remains on track.

The company has three days to ensure that the change is made, also directing road building regulatory authorities to install street lighting to enhance safety and improve the city’s look at night.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of the Ubungo-Kimara road building section, affirming that the project was only 26 percent complete, lagging behind by a vast 52percent, far behind the contractual requirements.

Acknowledging that the section from Ubungo to Kimara is “extremely problematic,” he said that its traffic jams are severe, therefore the contractor must work around the clock.

“You are significantly behind, and we cannot allow the public to continue enduring these difficulties,” he said, asserting that contractors who fail to meet deadlines will face stern measures.

Contractual action will be taken against them to ensure they are not awarded any future construction projects, he said, while on a positive note he expressed satisfaction with progress of works on the city centre to Gongo la Mboto section.

The project, being carried out by Sinohydro at a cost of 231bn/-, is 70percemt complete and is set for completion in the next three months, he said, while Ukonga MP Jerry Silaa, also a cabinet minister, was grateful for the focus on the project.

 Once completed, the project will enhance development for the people of Ukonga, reducing travel time from two hours for regular vehicles to just 45 minutes or 30 minutes by rapid buses, he said.

Frank Mbilinyi, the BRT project manager with Tanroads, the overall supervising agency, noted that BRT construction was first proposed in 2004 under the city council.

The BRT strategic plan outlines six phases of road construction to address the growing transportation needs of the city, he added.