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German firm Strabag wins $137.8m bid for Dar roads, flyovers

Saturday March 24 2012
road

Photo/File Strabag International has won a tender to construct several roads and flyovers in Dar es Salaam. The firm is set to commence the project in two weeks’ time and be through within 36 months.

German contractor, Strabag International has won a $137.8 million tender to construct several roads and flyovers in Dar es Salaam.

The firm is set to commence the project in two weeks’ time and be through within 36 months.

Patrick Mfugale, the chief executive officer at Tanzania National Road Agency (TANROADS) said the 21 kilometre stretch of road will run from Kivukoni to Kimara area, while the flyovers will be built at Tazara, Ubungo, Magomeni, Fire, Kamata and Chang’ombe road junctions to address the problem of congestion.

Mr Mfugale said the government has already disbursed the money to the contractor for the implementation of the Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transport (DART).

Dar es Salaam has a total of 506 kilometres of roads, but only 120 kilometres are tarmacked.

One of the main sources of road congestion in the city is the Ubungo bus terminal, which will be relocated to Bunju area in the outcast of the city.

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New bus stands

Minister for Works Dr John Magufuli said that under the DART project a total of 29 bus stands and service roads will be constructed.

According to Mr Magufuli four firms will undertake phase one of the construction work at a cost of $181.1 million.

“The government has also received a request from Ilala, Kinondoni, and Temeke municipal council for upgrading 27 roads from district roads to trunk roads.

The projects are expected to help decongest the city, which is experiencing a rapid increase of vehicles currently estimated to be over one million compared with only 30,000 in the 1960s.

Four out of the six commuter stands are in various stages of completion and the remaining two including Urafiki, where work has begun, and the other in Kariakoo Gerezani area are awaiting a court ruling.

DART said that over $6.8 million has been spent on compensating those who have been relocated to pave the way for the project.

However, a snag has hit the project, with a few residents at Gerezani area refusing to relocate despite being promised compensation.

The government said that it will not allow the buses that are currently plying Dar es Salaam routes into the new system.

All the buses for DART will be imported and will each have the capacity to carry at least 160 passengers.

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