{The African Development Bank (ADB) is to avail USD2, 68,215 to the East African Community to finance feasibility studies and design of the rehabilitation of selected road Sections of the central Corridor in Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
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Pan African Development Bank’s Resident Representative, Tanzania’s Country Office, Tonia Kandiero, revealed this here when the bank and the EAC signed a Letter of Agreement, under the NEPAD-Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility.
Kandiero initiated the Letter of Agreement on behalf of the Bank, while the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Dr Richard Sezibera endorsed on behalf of the East African Community recently at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Grant will finance consultancy services related to undertaking feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs, environmental and social impact assessment, and preparartion of bidding documents for the rehabilitation of the road sections joining Rusumo to Lusahunga and Nyakanazi to Manyovu via Kasulu in Tanzania; Kayonza to Kigali in Rwanda; and Rumonge to Bujumbura via Rutunga in Burundi.
The section is one of the regional five main corridors within the community (a total length of about 12,000 km), which constitute a strategic priority and require rehabilitation and upgrading to complete the road network in the Community.
The Northern Corridor from Mombasa to Bujumbura is part of the Transport African Highway (Mombasa – Lagos) while the Tunduma – Moyale road is part of the Cape to Cairo Highway.
The development of the regional network has mainly been hampered by insufficient financial resources. The EAC in collaboration with member countries has initiated a development partner-co-ordinated assistance in order to mobilise funds for the development of the corridors.
Under the High Level Standing Committee on the East African Road Network, the EAC has facilitated sector reforms which include the formation of Roads Boards/Agencies, participation of private sector, harmonisation of regional policies and axle loads control in the road sub-sector.
All the Partner States have road fund boards and road agencies.
There are two transit corridors that facilitate import/export activities in the region.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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