Bukoba — THE government has allocated 6.72bn/- to improve roads in Kagera Region during the 2012/13 financial years. Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads), Regional Manager, Mr John Kalupale, said that out of the 6.720bn/-, 3.239bn/- will be used to improve regional roads and the remaing 3.5bn/- will be used to improve trunk roads.

According to Mr Kalupale, the region has a total of 7,505.4 kilometres of roads network, out of which 2,129 kilometres are under Tanroads. He noted that 1,511.9 kilometres, equivalent to 71 per cent, of road are in good good condition, 505.6 kms (23.7 per cent) kilometres are in average condition while 112 kms (5.3 per cent) are in poor state.

A total of 196.9 kilometres of trunk tarmac roads would undergo routine maintenance during the coming financial years at the cost of 517.3m/- while 142.6 kms of trunk gravel roads would undergo routine maintenance at the cost of 281.2m/-.

Trunk tarmac roads earmarked for routine maintenance include Kobero-Nyakasanza (33.91 kms), Rusumo-Lusahunga (37.95 kms), Mutukula-Kagoma (123.5 kms) and Bukoba Urban (1.61 kms).During same period, 15 kilometres of truck tarmac roads will undergo periodic maintenance at the cost of 1.632bn/-, while 69.5 kilometres of trunk gravel roads would also undergo periodic maintenance which will cost 849m/-.

A total of 155 bridges will undergo routine maintenance at the cost of 82m/- while four bridges will undergo major maintenance at the cost of 130.2m/-. Mr Kalupale said the projects will include Bushirombo-Lusahunga 110 kilometres road, being constructed at the cost of 114.7bn/-.

Meanwhile, Kagera Regional Commissioner, Mr Fabian Massawe, has cautioned residents in the region to be vigilant and ensure that infrastructure, including roads, is not vandalized because it costs billions of taxpayers' money to repair the same.

Mr Massawe gave the warning when opening a Regional Roads Board meeting held in Bukoba Municipality early in the week.