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Dar-to-Lindi road nearly ready - JK
2007-11-20 09:42:46
By Special Correspondent, Lindi
President Jakaya Kikwete announced yesterday that the long-awaited Dar-Kibiti-Lindi to Mingoyo road is almost ready. The President also added that the Unity Bridge that unites Tanzania and Mozambique would be completed soon.
He made the announcement when inspecting the 480.8-kilometer road on his way back from Lindi, after a week-long tour.
``I promised you during the campaigns that if you elect us, we would complete the road. The road is now completed,`` President Kikwete said.
He said the construction would open-up and boost economies of the southern regions, as it would be ready for use by December this year.
Construction of the road started way back in 1995. It has been going on for years. At times, legislators from the southern regions have been voicing out an outcry, calling for its completion.
The road was built in three phases. About 129 kilometers of the road between Dar es Salaam and Kibiti has been completed and the remaining four will be ready next month, at an estimated cost of 15m/-.
The contractor for the 60km section between Ndundu and Somanga hasn`t been found yet, but the Kuwait Fund, OPEC and the government of Tanzania will fund the project.
The 95km Nangurukuru-Mbwemkuru road stretch will cost 39.2bn/- and be completed early next year. About 78 kilometers has already been completed.
Another 95-kilometer section from Mbwemkuru-Lindi to Mingoyo, which cost 51.5bn/- has been completed by approximately 94 per cent and is expected to be ready next month.
The Masasi-Mangaka section, 54 kilometers, will be built in three phases, with a 15-kilometer tarmac section estimated to cost 6.5bn/.
On the other hand, the Unity Bridge, which is built jointly by the government of Tanzania and that of Mozambique, is 58 per cent complete and will be ready sometime next year.
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