33 Km of Kigali City roads to be rehabilitated

INFRASTRUCTURE: Government has also allocated Frw1.5b for construction of drainage systems, pavements and street lights around the city A high delegation of Rwanda’s City officials are in China to seek for support of a Frw13.2b project that will see the revamping of reconstruction of 33 Km of Kigali City roads. In three years time, the city center will have no more pot holes after the targeted 33 Km loops are reconstructed. The construction that is meant to begin by next year, suggests a modern road network along pavements and drainage with priority roads of Kanombe and Nyamirambo roads. According to officials, government is currently sources for finances for the proposed budget from the Chinese government where a high level team from Rwanda has traveled for negotiations. The project aims at rehabilitating all Kigali City roads in residential, commercial and industrial areas. According to Bruno Rangira Director of Media and Communication at City Hall, government has also allocated Frw1.5 billion for road rehabilitation and construction of drainage system, pavements and street lights around Kigali city. Under construction is also the 6.5 Km stone paved road of Kimironko suburbs and 9 Km in Nyarutarama which involves participation of residents where they contributed 5 percent. “This is the first initiative to have residents contribute, a move we would like to encourage other residents to be part of their development, Rangira said. Accomplished projects In its policy of changing the look of Kigali through modern road network in collaboration with World Bank, Giporoso-Kabeza road is already complete and Gisozi-ULK –Fawe Girls schools is also complete costing the government Frw2.9 billion. The 2.2 km Kigali Parents -Kimironko road is also finished costing Frw500 million. Accomplished also is the pavements around Kigali worth Frw1.3b with a target to have sidewalks or sufficient space for pedestrian traffic in all streets around Kigali along with street lighting. Construction of roads is too expensive, one Kilometer of tarmac road costs Frw400 m and Frw250m for a stone paved road, he said. But the target is to have modern roads with well paved were well paved sidewalks. In collaboration with Projet des Infrastructure et Gestion Urbain (PIGU) under slum upgrading project, Biryogo and Cyahafi roads of about 2.4 Km were rehabilitated and street lights were established. Future plansWith the new Kigali master plan which provides planning guidelines for the city in the next 50 years, Kigali City intends to construct central sewage plants where people will have to subscribe for maintenance. In the mini- budget presented last month infrastructure development was allocated about Frw89.1b. Priorities include rehabilitation of roads around Kigali and other roads from Kigali like Musanze- Rubavu and Ngororero –Mukamira roads, and construction of feeder roads in rural areas. Other areas are development of Free Trade Zone and studies for Bugesera International Airport, energy distribution, ICT development and improvement of water and sanitation. Ends