By Theresia Victor
On October 17, 2024, the Government of Tanzania will receive grant aid from the Government of Japan to construct key inner ring roads in Dodoma City.
The agreement, valued at 4.070 billion Japanese Yen (approximately 78 billion Tanzanian Shillings), will be signed between the Ministry of Finance and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The signing ceremony, taking place at the Ministry of Finance in Dar es Salaam, will be officiated by Dr. Natu El-maamry Mwamba, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and Mr. Ara Hitoshi, Chief Representative of JICA Tanzania.
The project will construct a 6.509 km section of road from Bahi to Makulu on Kikuyu Road.
It will also include the expansion of a 3.4 km 2-lane road between Bahi and Imagi intersections and developing a new 2-lane road stretching 3.1 km from Imagi to Makulu via Ntyuka.
With the government’s relocation to Dodoma spurring rapid urban growth, the city is experiencing rising traffic congestion.
Positioned at the intersection of major transport corridors, Dodoma has seen daily traffic swell, with around 14,400 heavy vehicles passing through the city center in 2019.
This new road project aims to reduce congestion by rerouting large vehicles, which is expected to decrease traffic within the city center by 40%.
The initiative will also improve safety by installing streetlights and reflective studs, helping to curb traffic accidents.
In addition, the new roads will streamline access along the East-West and North-South African highway networks, boosting regional connectivity.
JICA’s support for this project aligns with Tanzania’s Five Year Development Plan III (FYDPIII), which seeks to transform the country into an industrialized, middle-income economy.
The project underscores Japan’s commitment to fostering sustainable infrastructure development and supporting Tanzania’s ambitions for economic growth.
The Dodoma City Inner Ring Roads project marks another milestone in the long-standing partnership between Tanzania and Japan, paving the way for a safer, more efficient, and modernized capital city.