More than TZS517 billion has been allocated to upgrade road infrastructure in Dar es Salaam through the Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project Phase II (DMDP II), an initiative aimed at easing transport challenges and supporting economic growth in Tanzania’s commercial capital.
The project, being implemented by the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA), involves upgrading about 250 kilometres of roads to asphalt standard across all five districts of the region.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam, TARURA Regional Manager Engineer Geofrey Mkinga said the project is part of broader government efforts to address long-standing road infrastructure challenges that have affected mobility, trade and daily economic activities in the city.
He said the government has allocated about TZS516 billion for the construction and upgrading of the roads, which are expected to improve transport services, reduce traffic congestion and boost business activities within the region.
According to Eng Mkinga, the TARURA Dar es Salaam office manages a road network of approximately 5,057 kilometres. Out of these, 677 kilometres are paved roads, equivalent to 13 percent of the total network, while more than 2,500 kilometres, or about 50 percent, remain earth roads.
He said the ongoing construction of asphalt roads will significantly reduce the number of earth roads while improving transport services and addressing persistent challenges such as traffic congestion and flooding in some parts of the city.
The improved infrastructure is also expected to create employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth by making it easier for people and goods to move across different parts of the region.
Despite challenges posed by heavy rains in some areas, Eng Mkinga said construction work is progressing well, with the overall implementation of the project having reached over 80 percent.
He noted that many of the roads under the project are expected to be completed and opened for use between August and October 2026, while the remaining sections are scheduled for completion by April 2027.
Among the roads expected to be completed within this period are the Banana–Kivule road and the Mbezi Msumi road, which have long been a concern for residents due to their poor condition.
Eng Mkinga also said improvement works are underway in Kariakoo, one of the city’s busiest commercial centres, where several roads have previously become impassable during the rainy season due to mud and poor drainage.
He urged residents of Dar es Salaam to remain patient while construction work continues and encouraged the public to protect and maintain the infrastructure once completed so that it can serve communities for many years.
Residents from different parts of the city who spoke separately expressed appreciation to the government for the ongoing improvements, noting that better road infrastructure will ease transportation challenges and support economic and social activities across the region.
