KIGALI - The Government is currently constructing and rehabilitating several major roads of over 3700 kilometers across the country, the Minister of Infrastructure, Vincent Karega, has said.

Speaking to The New Times yesterday, Karega said that the works will cost a tune of Rwf500 billion, and will be concluded in 2013.

He said 50 percent of the costs will be raised by the Government and another half by development partners in form of loans and grants. These development partners are World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Arab Development Bank and China, he said.

The minister outlined some of the roads as Rusizi-Rubavu, Rusizi-Huye, Musanze-Kigali, Kigali-Gatuna, Nyamagabe-Nyaruguru, Musanze-Muhanga, Bugesera-Nyanza and Ngoma-Bugesera. Others include several roads within Kigali City and intra-district roads in other parts of the country.

He said roads remain a top priority for the Government, consuming more than half of the national budget allocated to infrastructure.

"Infrastructure financing increases every year, the sector receives 26 % of the national budget and the road sphere is allocated 60% of the infrastructure budget, this shows the infrastructure is a priority”, he said.

The minister said a newly created agency in charge of roads will help oversee and fast track road construction and rehabilitation activities. He said the agency will help develop road development strategic plans, including a 25-year master plan, which is already in the pipeline.

"Instead of remembering to repair a road when it has already been destroyed, you should rehabilitate it before its too late,” said Karega.

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