Works on new alternative roads are underway in different suburbs of Kigali with view to completing them by June, when Rwanda is due to host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Most of these roads are being upgraded to supplement the Kigali International Airport road, which will be mostly used by the delegates.
According to the City of Kigali, Nyabisindu-Nyarutarama road is expected to be completed before the end of April 2020.
Construction works on this road started in August 2019.
Stretching over a kilometre, this road will help commuters from the Remera area to connect to Nyarutarama-Utexrwa-Kinamba city centre.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CHOGM 2020 is expected to draw about 10,000 delegates, including Heads of State and Government from the 53 member states.
Ernest Nsabimana, the city Vice Mayor in charge of Urbanisation and Infrastructure. Photo: Net.
"Some people have already been expropriated and works are ongoing,” Ernest Nsabimana, the city Vice Mayor in charge of Urbanisation and Infrastructure told The New Times on Monday.
He added that: "The roads being upgraded are in line with preventing or at least reducing traffic jams, especially now that we are about to host a big event like CHOGM.”
Other roads being upgraded include Kabeza-Alpha Palace, Remera Airtel to Gasabo District Head Office, and one from Kigali Convention Centre-Kimihurura-Rwandex.
According to the City of Kigali, four junctions and roundabouts, namely; Sonatubes, Giporoso, Gisimenti and Kimironko are expected to get a facelift.
The Government has allocated over Rwf20.1 billion to preparatory activities ahead of CHOGM.
The country joined the bloc in 2009, becoming the second member to be admitted into the commonwealth club of nations without any direct colonial ties to Britain, after Mozambique.