THE government has signed contracts for road construction in five municipalities of Dar es Salaam Region, as part of the second phase of the Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project (DMDP II), where 250 kilometers of tarmac roads will be built.

Humphrey Kanyenye, the Tanroads projects engineer standing in for the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) CEO, said the project, costing 1.1trn/-, starts next month, for building and improving 90 kilometers of drainage systems, nine bus stations, 18 markets and three modern waste disposal sites.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, he said that the project will cover 72 wards and benefit four million people in Temeke, Ilala, Kigamboni, Kinondoni and Ubungo municipalities, more or less discounting the formulation that Ilala is a city on its own.

The total project cost is put at $438m (1.1trn/-), with the World Bank extending a $385m credit facility, and the Dutch government offering a $53m grant, he said.

Of the total budget, $4295m or 67 per cent of the total will be allocated to infrastructure, while $108m or 25per percent will be used for solid waste management, he said, highlighting that $20m or 5.0 per cent will be allocated for institutional strengthening, and $15m or 3.0 placed for project management.

The World Bank loan agreement was signed back in February and work on its implementation started in May, he said, elaborating that in the first phase 207 kilometers of tarmac roads will be constructed. Additionally, 75.2 kilometers of improved storm water drainage systems will be built, he stated.

Mohamed Mchengerwa, the Regional Administration and Local Governments state minister in the President's Office, (PO-RALG) demanded that Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila directly oversee the project.

He emphasized that contractors do not delay work or exceed the contract timelines, while all projects are completed as scheduled. Eight out of 20 road construction tenders had been signed upon signing the funding contracts, while TARURA needs to expedite the signing of remaining tenders to avoid project delays, he specified.

In the first phase 190bn/- will be used to construct 93 kilometers of roads, and the remaining 290bn/- contract will build 104 kilometers, with the signing to take place next month, he said.

He stressed that those executing these projects, including workers, should be from the region to benefit the local population, who are the primary beneficiaries of the project.

The project must be implemented with integrity and proper supervision, ensuring value for money and where the needs of the residents are prioritized, he said, cautioning against taking projects to areas where they are not provided for.

PO-RALG permanent secretary Adolf Ndunguru was similarly directed to complete the process of re-establishing the city of Dar es Salaam, pointing at major improvements underway with the construction of bus rapid transit (BRT) roads and DMDP II.

The Msimbazi River improvement project needs to be placed on a proper footing by securing investors, he said on the project involving developing 57 hectares of land along the Msimbazi Valley from Pugu to the Oysterbay shoreline.