idoyo
JF-Expert Member
- Jan 13, 2013
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The construction of the much awaited flyovers in the countrys business capital of Dar es Salaam could take longer to see the light of day as implementation of the project has been suspended indefinitely due to financial constraints and delayed procurement procedures, the Guardian has learnt.
The flyovers at some of the citys strategic junctions including Tazara, Ubungo, Changombe, Magomeni and Fire-Kamata were supposed to ease congestion in the countrys busiest city.
Speaking to The Guardian in a telephone interview, minister for Works, Eng Gerson Lwenge said the construction of the flyover at Tazara which is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) awaits completion of procurement procedures for construction materials.
The minister explained that earlier the plan was to start construction by January next year but after consultations with JICA; the two parties decided (the government and the Japanese Agency) decided to postpone the commencement of the project until all construction materials are available.
We spoke with our supporters (JICA) and they confirmed to us that they are not done with procurement procedures. So it is not easy to start implementing the project in January, said the deputy minister, calling upon the public to be patient, saying they will be informed on the progress once everything is ready.
JICA has already endorsed 52.5bn/- for the project which were disbursed in June last year.
However the minister said they are also still looking for an ideal bidder for the Tazara project. The flyover will connect Nyerere and Mandela roads.
He said they will re-advertise the tender after the first attempt proved futile.
Elaborating further, Eng Lwenge said other projects that involve construction of flyover bridges at Ubungo, Changombe, Magomeni, and Fire-Kamata are under the government, noting that meanwhile the government is still soliciting for appropriate shareholders to collaboratively work on them.
Chief Executive Officer for the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads), Patrick Mfugale was previously quoted by the media as saying that contractors for the Mandela/Nyerere road at Tazara junction had already started to pull out water pipelines that cover 2.8 kilometres.
In November last year, this paper reported that the construction of a flyover bridge at the busy Tazara junction was set to begin early January, next year.
However, the then Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Works, Mussa Iyombe told the seventh Joint Transport Sector Review (JTSR) meeting that plans have been finalised and that next year the construction would begin.
Iyombe stated that the detail design and preparations for tender documents were complete, land acquisition and preparations for relocation of utilities from the construction sites were in progress and assured that the actual construction work would begin in January, 2015.
The initial part of the project was implemented by a three joint venture contractors namely, RJR, JR and Jos Hansen.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
