The Tanzanian government has unveiled a bold plan to modernize the country’s road transport network, aiming to ease travel, reduce traffic congestion, and boost economic growth.
Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam, Minister of Works Abdallah Ulega said the initiative, known as the Expressways Master Plan, is now underway with Tanzanian engineers working closely with experts from South Korea.
“The partnership with South Korea, a country that has achieved remarkable progress in road infrastructure, will equip our experts with the skills needed to plan, execute, and manage large-scale road projects efficiently,” Minister Ulega said at the opening of a special training session for Tanzanian and Korean specialists.
The training, attended by officials from the Ministry of Construction, the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), and representatives from both governments, aims to build local capacity and ensure the successful rollout of the country’s ambitious transport strategy.
Minister Ulega said the plan will connect all nine transport corridors in Tanzania with wider, digitally-enabled roads designed to withstand environmental challenges and link production hubs to markets and ports. He noted that the project will reduce travel times, boost efficiency, and improve citizens’ daily lives.
He praised the Korean government and KOICA for their support in strengthening Tanzania’s capacity to implement expressway projects.
“Tanzania is fortunate to learn from South Korea, where traveling 400 kilometers between cities is routine. Now, it is our turn to deliver similar infrastructure to ease the travel burden for our citizens and support national development,” he said.
Minister Ulega also urged Tanzanian engineers to acquire skills in designing, supervising, and executing projects that align with National Vision 2050, emphasizing the need for locally-driven expertise in infrastructure development.
Meanwhile, Engineer Elibariki Mkumbo, Manager of Public-Private Partnership Projects, revealed that work on the Kibaha-Morogoro expressway will begin soon, describing it as a transformative project that will revolutionize transport in Tanzania.
He added that ongoing training with KOICA will ensure TANROADS and other local professionals gain the expertise required to deliver these projects efficiently.
Once completed, the mega plan is expected to reduce congestion, enhance efficiency, and unlock significant economic opportunities, marking a major milestone in Tanzania’s quest for modern, high-capacity transport infrastructure.