Tarura allocates 8.6bn/- for road construction, rehabilitation in Chalinze
COAST REGION: THE Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) plans to spend 8.67bn/- for construction of new roads and maintenance of damaged ones in Chalinze Council in Bagamoyo District next fiscal year.
The amount of money is vital for road maintenance with many of them having maintenance backlog. This necessitates a substantial sum of money.
TARURA’s Manager for Bagamoyo District Engineer Bupe Angetile made the revelations during a special councillors’ meeting when presenting the agency proposals for the 2024/2025 budget plan.
Eng Angetile said various criteria had been used during the preparation of the plan, including access to financial resources.
“Other criteria include the trend of investment needs, the safety of the users, the nature of roads, soil and the number of the bridges involved,” Eng Angetile said.
She added, “The proposals for 2024/2025 budget plan include maintenance work to be funded by the Roads Fund Board, as well as development projects that are funded by the agency itself and fuel levy,” explained Eng Angetile.
Eng Angetile also said in the 2023/2024 budget plan the Chalinze Council was allocated 2.2bn/- from all sources of funds including the Road Fund, the levy and the Constituency Development Catalyst Fund (CDCF).
The proposed budget, according to Acting Council Chairman Ramadhani Mkufya, will unlock economic zones that have been unable to generate more owing to damaged roads.
Ms Salama Ndyetabura, Acting District Executive Director (DED) for Chalinze Council, applauded TARURA for coming up with a budget that intends to reach out to communities that contribute significantly to the council’s income collections.
“We anticipate that when these roads are completed, they will simplify crop transportation and facilitate economic activities.” Our income collections will improve as well, speeding up development in Chalinze,” she remarked.
Msata Division Officer Jesca Samson, who represented Bagamoyo District Commissioner Ms Halima Okash, advised the councillors to closely monitor the projects to be implemented.
“Our government is investing heavily in improving road infrastructure in various parts of the country, including in our council.” It is now up to us to ensure that these roads are completed on schedules and on high standard so that they can last longer,” she emphasised.
