Japan to implement another road project in Dar

FATMA ABDU

FINANCE and Planning Minister, Dr Philip Mpango (right), exchanges a document for the expansion of the 4.3 km Morocco-Mwenge road with Japanese Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Masaharu Yoshida, in Dar es Salaam, yesterday. (Photo by the ministry)

THE governments of Tanzania and Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth 1.4 billion for the implementation of the New Bagamoyo Highway road ex pansion project.

Finance and Planning Minister, Dr Philip Mpango, said the money will be used for the construction of Morocco and Kawawa intersection road to Mwenge. Dr Mpango said that this is not the first time for the govern ment of Japan to provide support, because in the first phase they issued 99.5 billion/- for the expansion of the 12.9 kilometre Mwenge - Tegeta road.

“The same money was spent on the construction of Mlalakuwa, Lugalo and Tegeta bridges,” Dr Mpango said, adding that the support is very important to the country since it will help to reduce traffic congestion in the city.

He said that the government of Japan has also provided support in the ongoing construction of TAZARA flyover project, construction of the 188.1 kilometre Dodoma-Babati road, construction of 202.5 kilometre TunduruMangaka-Mtambaswala road and the 259.9 kilometre IringaDodoma road.

The Japanese Ambassador to Tanzania, Masaharu Yoshida, said that the expansion of the New Bagamoyo road from Mwenge to Morocco is very important since it will supplement the prior expansion of the first phase from Mwenge to Tegeta.

“The contract signed today is for the completion of the initial architecture and after the completion of this, we expect to sign another contract for the construction,” he said.

The Ambassador added that it was their expectation that by June, next year, the construction process will begin after the completion of comprehensive architecture. He stressed that through the project, traffic congestion in the city has decreased although population continues to increase daily especially in the project area.

“I’m sure this project will reduce the problem of congestion in the city,” he said.