Contractors upgrading roads around the National Stadium and training grounds have been ordered to accelerate work on drainage systems before the expected El Niño rains, amid concerns that flooding could disrupt transport and damage newly built infrastructure.
Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) Advisory Board chairman Engineer Florian Kabaka said contractors must act on technical instructions issued by the agency rather than simply acknowledge them.
He said completing drainage channels before the rains was critical to prevent water from accumulating on roads and other key areas, particularly infrastructure expected to support activities during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“Contractors should not just talk; they must implement the advice and instructions they receive from TARURA,” Engineer Kabaka said during an inspection of ongoing road projects in Dar es Salaam.
The projects include roads providing access to training grounds and improvements around the National Stadium, which will be used during the continental tournament.
Kabaka said the progress of the projects was encouraging, noting that contractors had deployed engineers, machinery and other equipment and were working around the clock.
However, he urged them to increase the pace, saying the projects across Dar es Salaam had reached about 50 percent completion.
He said the immediate priority was to ensure drainage infrastructure was completed before heavy rains begin, as poorly managed stormwater could undermine roads and create access problems for residents and visitors.
The chairman also assured Dar es Salaam residents that TARURA would continue improving critical roads to minimise disruptions to movement and access to essential services during the rainy season.
TARURA chief executive officer Engineer Victor Seff said the agency was closely monitoring the projects and would continue engaging contractors to ensure they meet the December completion deadline.
“We are confident that, based on the progress made so far, the roads will be completed to the required standards and within the set conditions,” Engineer Seff said.