The government has started the construction of 42.78 kilometres of tarmac roads in Kigamboni Municipality under the second phase of the Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project (DMDP II), a major infrastructure initiative aimed at improving urban mobility and living conditions in the fast-growing coastal district.
Implemented through the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA), the Sh110 billion project covers several roads in the wards of Mjimwema, Kibada, Kigamboni, Vijibweni and Somangila.
Acting TARURA manager for Kigamboni District, Eng Edgar Tumsifu, said the project has reached 30 percent implementation and has already started transforming areas that previously faced serious transport challenges.
He said the new roads will significantly expand the municipality’s tarmac road network and improve accessibility across the district.
Kigamboni currently has a road network of about 1,035 kilometres, but only around 10 kilometres are paved. With the completion of the DMDP II project, an additional 42.78 kilometres of roads will be upgraded to tarmac standard, bringing the total paved road network to more than 50 kilometres by August this year.
The improved roads are expected to ease transportation, reduce vehicle damage caused by poor road conditions and shorten travel time for residents moving between different parts of Kigamboni and the Dar es Salaam city centre.
Some of the roads under construction will also serve as alternative routes, helping motorists avoid congestion when travelling towards Kivukoni Ferry or the Kigamboni Bridge.
During a recent inspection tour, Eng Tumsifu said officials visited road sections covering 10.48 kilometres in Kibada Ward where construction progress has reached 68 percent.
The contractor is currently working on drainage systems and pedestrian walkways as part of the road infrastructure package designed to enhance safety and improve the urban environment.
He explained that the DMDP II works include the construction of tarmac roads, pedestrian pathways, bus stops, street lighting and more than 80 kilometres of stormwater drainage.
According to him, the project will not only improve transport but also address long-standing flooding problems in some areas.
He urged residents to remain patient during the construction phase and cooperate with contractors to ensure smooth implementation of the project.
Once completed, he said, the roads will make neighbourhoods cleaner, safer and more attractive.
Eng Tumsifu also called on residents to protect the infrastructure by avoiding dumping waste into drainage systems and ensuring that overloaded vehicles do not damage the new roads.
Local leaders say the ongoing works are already beginning to stimulate economic activity and property development in the municipality.
Kichangani Street chairperson in Kibada Ward, Mr Nassoro Chande, said poor road conditions had previously slowed down social and economic activities in the area.
However, he noted that the ongoing road construction has already attracted new housing developments and increased land value in the area.
In Shangwe area, Kibada Ward, businessman Frank Mwakipageme said flooding during the rainy season had been a major challenge for traders because the area lies in a valley.
He said the ongoing construction of drainage channels has already improved the situation, allowing businesses to operate more smoothly.
Mr Mwakipageme urged the government to continue investing in infrastructure development to ensure residents can easily access social services.
Another resident, Mr Albano Nditi of Kiziza Street, welcomed the project and thanked the government for improving infrastructure in the area.
He also appealed for the installation of road signs and speed bumps to enhance road safety, while urging fellow residents to protect the new infrastructure by keeping drainage systems free from waste.
