By Charles Mkoka,
Tanzania’s rural roads agency (TARURA) in Shinyanga Region has significantly expanded its road network after a sharp increase in government funding, regional manager, Engineer Avith Theodory said.
Theodory said TARURA’s regional budget rose from about 6.4 million Tanzanian shillings four years ago to between 16 and 18 billion shillings, representing more than a twofold increase.
The additional funding has enabled the construction of more than 240 kilometres of new roads and the upgrading of about 820 kilometres with gravel.
As part of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s first 100 days of her second term, TARURA in Shinyanga signed 10 road construction contracts worth a total of 4.2 billion shillings.
“Contractors are already on site, and the projects are improving access in areas affected by heavy rains, including the construction of two major bridges,” Theodory said.
Shinyanga has six local councils across three districts, with a total road network of 5,224 kilometres. Of these, about 2,001 kilometres are gravel roads, 42 kilometres are paved, and approximately 2,900 kilometres remain earth roads.
He added that the roads are a key pillar for transporting agricultural produce and restoring connectivity across the region.
Theodory said the increased budget has accelerated development in towns and villages, improved inter-regional connectivity and strengthened economic activity across multiple sectors.
“Shinyanga is largely flat, and we continue to educate residents on protecting bridges and culverts from damage caused by human activities,” he said.
He also urged the public to exercise caution in construction sand mining and other extractive activities, warning that they pose risks to road infrastructure, particularly earth and gravel roads and drainage structures.
