BOTSWANA GOVT SECURES P300 MILLION GRANT FOR ROAD UPGRADING
Government has secured a P300 million grant from the Chinese government which will be channelled towards upgrading some roads across the country.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications has identified three roads, to benefit from the grant being Motlopi/Makalamabedi road, Radisele/Pilikwe road and one in the Barolong area.
The Minister of Transport and Communications, Ms Dorcas Makgato announced that all feasibility studies and other required processes had been completed as the plan was for construction of the 28-km long-awaited Motlopi/Makalamabedi road to commence this year.
She explained that Chinese grants came with condition that construction would be undertaken by Chinese companies.
However, the appointment of the contractor would be agreed upon by the two governments. She assured residents that the appointed contractors would hire locals.
The road, she said, was among the 40 which were supposed to be implemented through the Economic Stimulus Programme but could not be undertaken due to financial constraints.
Residents called on government to speed up the project as it would add value to the local economy.
Residents were also informed about some of the roads to be upgraded in the Boteti region.
Ms Makgato explained that the Department of Roads was carrying out periodic and routine maintenance within Boteti east and west constituencies.
For Boteti West, she mentioned the re-gravelling of the 14km Rakops-Xere road noting that the project was being done in two phases, with the first phase having commenced in the 2017/18 financial year.
The project has been awarded to Cleveland Pty Ltd at a cost of over P6 million.
Ms Makgato revealed that the second phase of the 6.5 km road was expected to commence this financial year at a cost of P5 million. The tender would be awarded soon, she said.
Another project entails the 19km dry grading and 5.7km of re-gravelling of Toromoja-Rakops at P3 million.https://allafrica.com/stories/201908210092.html
