DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzanian government has issued a stern warning to China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) to accelerate construction works under the Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project Phase II (DMDP II), saying continued delays could lead to termination of the contract.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA), Eng Victor Seff, issued the warning during an inspection tour of DMDP II road projects in Ubungo and Kinondoni districts where he was dissatisfied with the pace of implementation in some sections and directed the contractor to deploy more workers, equipment and strengthen site supervision to ensure all projects are completed within the revised timelines.
Speaking at the scene, the CEO stated that the government would not tolerate delays that deny citizens timely access to improved road infrastructure and services.
“You requested an extension of time to complete the work. You must now increase the pace of implementation to recover the lost time and finish the projects according to the contractual deadlines. Otherwise, we will have no option but to terminate the contract and hand it over to more experienced contractors in order to protect the interests of the government and the public,” he said.
Additionally, he instructed the contractor to uphold quality standards and improve safety at construction sites by installing adequate road signs and traffic guidance to minimise accidents in work zones.
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Despite expressing concern over delays, Eng Seff praised the completion of the Msumi and Goba-Wakorea bridges, describing them as major relief for residents who had long endured transport challenges and safety risks, particularly during the rainy season.
“The completion of these bridges is a great achievement for the public. That is why we have consistently directed contractors to prioritise the most critical areas so that citizens can quickly benefit from the projects,” he said.
Furthermore, he thanked residents for reporting poor workmanship where it occurs and for providing positive feedback on successfully completed projects, citing the Msumi Bridge as an example of effective public participation.
The TARURA boss also appealed to affected residents to continue cooperating with contractors and project supervisors, especially in areas awaiting compensation payments, by allowing construction activities to proceed without unnecessary disruptions.
During the inspection, Eng Seff visited several ongoing road projects in Ubungo, including the Msumi Bridge and the 9.9-kilometre Msumi Road, the 7.76-kilometre Goba-Wakorea Road and other urban roads at various stages of construction.
In Kinondoni District, he inspected works on roads including Nakalekwa-Bwawani, Umoja, Mahakamani, Mivumoni, Tegeta-Silverz, Shoko-Mongela, Msikitini Bima, Bima-Viwandani, Makoka, Shauri Madai, Makonde and Kanisa, while also receiving progress reports on other neighbourhood roads being upgraded to asphalt and concrete standards.