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Proposed local roads upgrade hits snag

By Staff Writer

The Ministry of Works has stopped the process to upgrade some of the proposed local roads in Arusha region from District and Municipal levels into Regional status.

The Arusha Regional Commissioner Mr Magessa Stanslaus-Mulongo, stated here that it is  only one road, the one connecting Longido District in the region and Siha District of Kilimanjaro, via the leeward side of Mount Meru, whose status has been approved for upgrading.

The Longido-Siha road, according to the Regional Manager for Tanzania Roads Network Agency (TANROADS), Engineer Desdedit Kakoko is also in the process of being made a by-pass which is set to channel the traffic from Namanga border town and Longido as well as vehicles from Nairobi (Kenya) to Kilimanjaro region and even Dar-es-salaam, without  the motorists having  to drive through Arusha City.

Dr. John Magufuli, Minister of Works

“The Minister of Works, (Dr John Magufuli) has approved the Longido-Siha road status upgrading but we are still waiting for the official letter from the Ministry to that effect,” said Eng Kakoko who was speaking during the Regional Road Board meeting

The  Session Chairman, Mr Magessa Mulongo, the RC warned against the laissez-faire attitude by local officials towards people who set up structures, premises and businesses within road reserves saying it is costing the government billions in compensations.

“Because when we start demolishing the structures while executing infrastructural development, people always ask; ‘where were the authorities when the buildings were being set up?” pointed out the Regional Commissioner.

Of late, many roads in Arusha, especially those mapped within the City jurisdiction were downgraded from Regional to Municipal (District) status after they were found to have no spaces for expansion and development following waves of people and institutions to invade their reserves, setting up massive and permanent structures.

TANROADS takes care of 1,175 kilometers of the road network in Arusha Region, among them 456.6 kilometers of the main Highways, 717.5 kilometers of Regional Roads as well as 423 bridges.

According to Eng Kakoko, 327.5 kilometers of the Highways passing through Arusha comprises of paved (tarmac) tracks, while Regional road network has only 28 kilometers of paved tracks.

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