Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government has reiterated its commitment to improve transport infrastructures, especially in rural areas to spur economic growth. Deputy Minister for Works and Transport, Mwita Waitara insisted here that the government will from time to time allocate funds for road construction projects countrywide. He was talking to staff of various institutions under the ministry based in Kilimanjaro Region.
“The sixth-phase government has decided to give priority to improving the infrastructure within the country. This move will ease transport for essential commodities, including crops in rural areas.
“The move will also ensure food crops are transported as well as cash crops getting into markets and thus enabling farmers to earn income,” the deputy minister noted.
He commended workers, saying that despite several challenges, they had played a big role in serving the people who depended much on their good performances. Speaking during the occasion, the Acting TANROADS Regional Manager, Engineer Motta Kyando, said the government had allocated 15bn/- to be used for maintenance of roads in Kilimanjaro Region during the financial year 2020/2021.
“The allocated funds will be used for routine maintenance, special road and bridges maintenance as well as other major general repairs of roads and bridges,” she said.
Eng Kyando continued to say that the government had also allocated 15.8bn/- for road development projects of which would involve major projects such as the Same-Kisiwani-Mkomazi Road.“TANROADS in Kilimanjaro region is also involved in national projects that are being implemented in the region, including national projects, such as the one that measures 25kms from Bomang’ombe in Hai District via Sanya Juu in Siha District to Kamwanga area in Rombo District,” she said.
She named another project that would be implemented by TANROADS in Kilimanjaro Region as that of renovations of the Moshi Airport that is within the Moshi municipality. In his briefing, the Moshi Airport Manager, Engineer Dunstan Komba, said that if well maintained, the airport would help improve the economic situation of Kilimanjaro region and the national income through the tourism sector.
“Currently the airport, which has two runways, is being used to handle non scheduled flights which come to Moshi for different reasons including that of maintenance. May I take this opportunity to thank President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the government in general for providing funds meant for the renovations of this airport. Upon completion of the renovations, the airport will be a source of more income to the nation,” he said.
