TANROADS assures quick repair of damaged roads

TANZANIA: TANZANIA National Roads Agency (TANROADS) is taking quick emergency response for the repair of roads destructed by heavy rainfall, its Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Besta has said.

He told the ‘Daily News’ in an exclusive interview on Wednesday that the agency through its regional managers was collecting minute-to-minute updates on the areas affected by heavy rainfall and dispatching an emergency team for recovery.

He said the emergency team in every region and zone across the country is composed of contractors with the necessary equipment for the instant reopening of the roads, to enable the transportation of goods and services as well as enhancing communication.

He said the presence of emergency contractors helps to cut time which could be used for procurement procedures.

“We have observed quick response ever in this year’s Eli-niño season in comparison to that of 1997, many infrastructures damaged by heavy rainfall have been restored on time, and there are few complaints from citizens relating to the response especially to some roads, which have been severely destroyed,” Eng Besta said.

He mentioned Manyara, Mwanza, Tanga, Katavi, Mtwara and the Coast regions as some areas that were affected by prolonged heavy rainfall in which, TANROADS succeeded in reopening damaged roads and returning the situation to normal.

“We have restored communication in many damaged areas due to the government’s concerted efforts aiming at ensuring citizens continue with their normal lives” he insisted.

In another development, Eng Besta said TANROADS was doing what it takes to reopen damaged roads in the Lindi Region due to heavy rainfall at the beginning of this week. He said the major affected areas by heavy rainfall in the region included Liwale, Lindi and Nangurukuru, where flooding water blocked roads.

He said the TANROADS is installing temporary culverts to drain water and restore communication.

Eng Besta said collaboration is critical for all development stakeholders, including all government entities and citizens to address damaged infrastructures.

He appreciated the government for allocating funds for the emergency response, noting that in Lindi Region alone a total of 1bn/- was disbursed for the renovation of roads.

Last Tuesday, the Minister for Work, Mr Innocent Bashungwa, while in Lindi Region shortly after inspecting the damaged areas demanded the agency’s regional managers to undertake a fourday survey on road conditions in their respective regions.

He ordered the managers to submit the list of damaged roads to the Regional Commissioners (RCs) for repair.