The City of Kigali wants an increase in its 2019/2020 budget to allocate funds for expanding some junctions and roads so as to ease traffic flow as part of preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in 2020 in Kigali.

Marie-Chantal Rwakazina, the Mayor of Kigali, revealed the plans during the 2019/20 budget hearings in parliament on Friday.

The current draft budget for City of Kigali for 2019/2020 is Rwf23 billion.

She said the 2018/19 budget had been executed at 63 percent so far due to different challenges which include delays in expropriations.

"We are still facing budget gaps in terms of expanding about five road junctions and about 41 km of roads that will mainly help us to cope with traffic jam during the Commonwealth meeting. We have started talks with different partners including the committee preparing the CHOGM meeting so that we get a budget to finance the expansion,” she said.

Some of the junctions include Gishushu junction, Kisimenti junction, Giporoso junction, Kimironko-Kibagabaga junction.

"The budget is yet to be obtained but the junctions expansion is part of a package of preparing for the Commonwealth meeting. We will finalize the needed budget after discussions with all stakeholders.”

The officials explained that the junctions will expanded and have additional features in a way that it will allow some cars to continue driving without waiting and passing through traffic lights.

They include road from Amahoro Stadium, Migina neighborhood, Five to Five hotel, Airtel towards new Gasabo district office and RDB.

The other is from Controle Technique, Nyabisindu to Nyarutarama-MTN center.

Others that have been on progress of rehabilitation include Ruliba-Karama-Nyamirambo, Nyacyonga-Batsinda-Kagugu, and Nyacyonga –Gasanze – Birembo – Kami – Zindiro, Nyamirambo-Rebero-Nyanza and Rwandex- Kigali Convention Centre.   "We have two bridges to be expanded on Nyabugogo catchment. We are also looking at how next year we can have dedicated bus lanes where we will show public buses which routes to use in the morning busy hours and evening hours,” she said.

She said that a feasibility study on Bus Rapid Transit system will be completed before this year but it also requires detailed studies before implementation.

"We are looking at buses that look like trains as well as cable cars whose memorandum of understanding to launch trials will be signed at the end of this year,” she said.

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