The City of Kigali has set July as the new deadline for the completion of the ring of roads around Kigali Convention Centre (KCC), citing delays in expropriation and inconsistent cash flows to finish the road works.

The two-lane bypass stretching for about 2 kilometres was designed to clear space for KCC.

The bypass project is estimated to cost Rwf1.4 billion and should have been completed early last month according to original plans.

While the City has already finished the intra-zone roads connecting Rugando and Lemigo Hotel, another dual-carriage road is being constructed and will link Aigle Blanc Complex (locally known as Kwa Polisi Denis) to the main Kacyiru Ministries-Kimihurura Roundabout (former Kigali Business Centre) highway.

Speaking to The New Times, yesterday, Reuben Ahimbisibwe, the director-general of infrastructure at the City of Kigali, said delays in expropriation and lack of financial liquidity pushed the road completion date to early July.

"Due to expropriation issues and financial constraints we did not manage to complete the road construction in April, thus the new deadline was set for July. However, the expropriation so far has reached 99 per cent,” he said.

Expropriation law states that subsequent to receiving compensation, only expropriated property cannot exceed 90 days before vacating the premises to be used for development projects, a process that was supposed to have been observed accordingly, hence the delays.

The City had lined 29 properties for expropriation, including former Chinese restaurant and the two buildings belonging to city businesswoman Josephine Uwamwezi, among others.

Officials from the City had earlier told the The New Times that the road network would see two more small roundabouts constructed to help decongest traffic for commuters from the city centre to Remera and Kimironko.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw