The Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) has reaffirmed its commitment to embracing modern construction technologies, particularly the use of stone, as a means of accelerating infrastructure development while reducing costs.
Speaking during the 22nd anniversary of Engineers Day celebrations held at Mlimani City in Dar es Salaam, TARURA consulting engineer Pharles E. Ngeleja said the agency has recorded significant achievements through innovative methods.
“Tarura has been entrusted with the responsibility of managing road construction across the country, applying a range of technologies. The use of stone has proved to be highly successful,” he said.
According to him, TARURA has so far constructed 453 stone bridges for TSh32 billion since its establishment.
The initiative has saved the government more than TSh70 billion that would have been spent had concrete been used, resulting in an 80 percent reduction in expenses.
In addition, TARURA has completed 29.55 kilometres of stone-paved roads in the Mwanza, Kigoma, Rukwa, and Morogoro regions for TSh 14 billion.
The figure is significantly lower than the TSh19 billion that would have been required for light concrete or the TSh33 billion for heavy concrete construction.
To sustain these achievements, the agency has partnered with both local and foreign companies, with a focus on cost efficiency and policies that empower domestic contractors.
On bridges, TARURA has also set a long-term strategy to construct and rehabilitate more than 144,429 kilometres of roads using various technologies, an exercise being implemented in phases.
Furthermore, the agency continues to provide training to contractors and engineers on the innovations introduced in stone road and bridge construction.
“This year we plan to roll out training programmes across all critical cadres to ensure this technology spreads nationwide,” Mr Ngeleja added.