The Director General of Rwanda Transport Development Agency Elias Twagira has said that the country is yet to construct three weighbridges as to harmonize its axle load control laws and regulations.
This was resolved in a three-day 3rd East African Community (EAC) stakeholder’s workshop on harmonization of axle load control laws and regulations currently in progress at the Panafric Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
The main objective of the workshop is to receive summary of key findings, reach consensus on outstanding issues and develop a roadmap for the finalisation of the study on harmonization of axle load control laws and regulations in the EAC.
He, however, did not specify where and when the weighing facilities will be installed.
In his keynote address at the official opening of the workshop, the EAC Director for Infrastructure, Philip Wambugu said the workshop was critical in reaching consensus on outstanding issues pertaining to the harmonization of axle load regulations in the region, a vital component of the larger EAC trade and transport facilitation program.
Director Wambugu said the present situation of differentiated axle weight loading requirements where some Partner States were imposing a 56-ton requirement while others applying 48-ton were contradictory to the spirit and objectives of regional integration and untenable.
But the argument is no more according to Twagira since all member states have agreed to adopt 56ton. “In the past Rwanda allowed 53 ton but it is high time we construct weigh bridges to facilitate the harmonization process,” he remarked.
Wambugu further hailed the EAC Partner States and stakeholders for the strong support and involvement they have shown towards the harmonization of not only vehicle overload control in the region, but also in developing the regional transport strategy, a roads development program and the development of the One Stop Border Post concept, among other important initiatives.
Twagira revealed, “In Rwanda we’re yet to conduct a study to find whether it would be appropriate for us to shift to right hand drive like the majority of EAC member states”.
Corridor diagnostic studies have been carried out along the two major transit corridors in EAC namely; the Northern Corridor and the Central Corridor and the studies reveal a discouraging scenario with border delays, inefficient weighbridges and unnecessary police checks being the biggest culprits.
“The situation is of course aggravated by the poor performance of the railway system, which would alleviate greatly the burden on the highways and reduce the high maintenance costs of roads,” Wambugu remarked.
The EAC director of infrastructure added that by rationalizing and harmonizing axle weight loading, the region shall not only remove a costly logistics burden from the backs of the operators and investors.
However, “We shall also dramatically put a shine on the Brand East Africa that we are at the moment promoting as a prime investment destination”.
The Director informed the delegates that the Final Report of the Study will be tabled to the Ministers responsible for road transport for consideration and adoption in September 2011.
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