Arusha — A high-class tourist hotel, the 'Snow Crest' which recently opened at Kwa Ngulelo area is reported to have invaded a road reserve area meant for the development of a four-lane motor highway, authorities have confirmed.

Regional Manager for the Tanzania Roads Agency, Mr. Desdatus Kakoko said his office had so far sent three warning notices to the management of the new hotel regarding the property's invasion of space meant for road development.

Snow-Crest which is Arusha's latest landmark is located at Kwa-Ngulelo area of the Municipality along the busy Arusha-Moshi highway.

The Hotel Manager Mark Dingiria said only the parking lot was in TANROADS' precinct.

The third (latest) warning, just sent by Tanroads to the hotel, is giving the management a deadline of up to November 10, 2009 to demolish the 'protruding' section of the facility.

Owned by 'Snow-Crest and Wildlife Safaris Limited,' the new state-of-the art property is said to have encroached that section of the road reserve straddling Moshi-Arusha highway. The corridor is in the process of being upgraded onto an international four-lane, two-way trunk.

The Arusha Municipal Council Director, Raphael Mbunda admitted that his office had issued a building permit for the Hotel.

" and it was built according the required plan which adhered to regulations, however the hotel proprietors later on extended the front area to include a wide parking area. Actually it is this extension which has invaded the road reserve area," explained Mr. Mbunda.

The two-winged, three storey and 84-room imposing facility, boasts two large conference halls, shopping arcade, business center, swimming pool, gym and massage parlor. It also features a grand and majestic bar comparable to none in the region.

Though yet to be rated 'Snow Crest claims to be a top-notch facility.

But, Tanroads officials in Arusha say they could not understand why the hotel should be extended onto the road section in an area which the agency has been ordering demolition of buildings to pave way for the imminent major road constructions.

"Even before the hotel opened last September, we wrote to the management warning them of this encroachment, they did not respond, then we put an 'X' mark on the walls and they begged us to give them time until after the official opening which was slated for September 1, " Tanroads regional manager said.

Apparently, a 'high profile' personality was expected to open the hotel and the management did not want the red 'X' marks splashed on the facility during the occasion. They promised to rectify the construction afterwards, it didn't happen.

"And when we sent them another notice after the September date they again claimed that the official opening did not take place so we should give them more time," said Mr. Kakoko.

Grace Mushi, the Snow-Crest guest relations Manager said September 1 was just a 'soft opening' with official event expected early November. She however declined to comment on the road invasion.

The TANROADS manager said the third notice has been served to Snow-Crest and the management now has up to November 10 to demolish the hotel fence, parking lot and all the hotel's sticking out parts that extend onto the road reserve area.

The stately-done parking lot, all of which lies within road reserve area, can take 120 vehicles at a time.

"This major road is part of the proposed international trunk whose construction project runs under the East African Community and being a donor funded affair it is a sensitive matter."

"We don't want our supporters to pull out of the project," said Kakoko adding that foreign donors don't want to back a project steeped in controversy," he maintained.

"Already the project consultants are here and the works will soon start, all other roadside buildings from as far as Sanawari which were 'X' marked, have already backed off the highway," he pointed out.

Road reserve clearance on national trunks is "delimited by two parallel lines" at 22.5 meters on each side though according to Kakoko, the revised road act has extended this apron provision to 30 meters on each side.

However the proposed extra-wide four-lane highway may even demand more space at which the manager believes that the Land Acquisition Act of 1967 may apply to the affected roadside properties should the boundaries be extended further.

The feasibility study of the project, in which the government has already pledged Tsh. 0.5 billion, has started, according to the Tanroads manager.