MOTORISTS should brace for increased costs of using the
country’s major roads as authorities step up efforts to add more tollgates on
at least 18 roads.
The plan follows a major road rehabilitation and upgrade
project set to begin soon and encompass the construction of tollgates to recoup
the money spent on the roads. Government recently called for expression of
interest from local and foreign companies eager to conduct feasibility studies
on the roads as well citing areas to erect the tollgates.
Roads to be rehabilitated include Bulawayo-Airport,
Bulawayo-Victoria Falls, Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane, Buchwa-Rutenga and
Rutenga-Boli-Sango.
Other roads include Mberengwa-West Nicholson,
Karoi-Binga-Dete, Golden Valley-Sanyati- Kuwirirana-Nembudziya, Plumtree-Mphoengs
and Bulawayo-Nkayi road.
Government will also rehabilitate the roads linking
Bulawayo-Tsholotsho, Harare Drive Ring Road, Birchenough Bridge,
Harare-Bindura, Murambinda-Birchenough, Gwanda-Tuli, Mt Darwin-Mukumbura,
Mvurwi-Guruve-Kanyemba and Plumtree-Maitengwe.
Permanent Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure
development, Engineer George Mlilo said feasibility studies would inform where
the tollgates will be erected.
“We have written to companies requesting their
participation under the Operate Build Transfer (BOT) model. They will have to
do feasibility studies for the rehabilitation as well as to see where they can
put the toll gates. After the feasibility studies that is when they will know
where the tollgates will be erected. Of course not all of the roads will have
tollgates however, most of them will.”
Eng Mlilo said Government was looking at expanding the
Build-Operate-Transfer model to various areas of transport infrastructure.
“Following President Mnangagwa’s position that the country
is now open for business, the Ministry of Transport has also opened
opportunities for people who want to invest in infrastructure development,” he
said.
“A case in point is the Bulawayo-Beitbridge railway line.
There are other railway lines that we want partnerships which include the
Chitungwiza-Harare railway line and the Lions’ Den railway line. We have
airport developments like Buffalo Range, Kariba Airport and Masvingo. While we
are talking of construction of airports, Government is considering opening up
monopoly of the airspace in Zimbabwe. We want to improve our transport
infrastructure by entering into partnerships with private companies.”
The country is currently working on a national transport
master plan aimed at expanding the road, air, inland water and railway system.
Sunday Mail
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