K3 billion for rural bridges
By Yohane Symon:
Transport and Public Works Ministry has set aside K3 billion to go towards rehabilitation of 30 bridges in the country’s rural areas.
Transport and Public Works Minister, Ralph Jooma, made the remarks on Saturday when he launched construction of three bridges in traditional authorities (T/A) Chilipa and Jalasi in Mangochi District.
Jooma said the construction works were being done under the Annual National Road Programme Budget, which the government introduced in 2016 to improve the state of roads in rural areas.
A designated road is usually under Roads Authority and not local councils.
Most bridges, according to Jooma, fall under undesignated roads that cannot be funded through Constituency Development Fund or any other funds.
“The programme targets roads that are designated as well as those that are not designated. There are many roads that have qualified to become designated but they are in bad shape; hence, the government has set aside funds to upgrade them before designating them,” Jooma said.
From this year’s budget, the government will spend K120 million on rehabilitating bridges of Mwaye in Chilipa, Ntindiwale and Kamwendo Bridge in T/A Jalasi’s area.
Mangochi Masongola Member of Parliament, Ishmael Grant, thanked the government for approving funds to rehabilitate two bridges in his constituency.
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