World Bank Greenlights Sh1 Trillion Funding for Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project
Posted on : Tuesday, 27th February 2024
Dar es Salaam's road network is about to undergo a significant modification, thanks to the upcoming commencement of Phase Two of the Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project (DMDP). This decision comes amid a loan agreement worth Sh988.9 billion was signed with the World Bank (WB) last week.
DMDP Phase Two will include the upgrading of a 250-kilometer stretch of road infrastructure to asphalt standards, as well as the construction of new waste disposal facilities, cutting-edge marketplaces, canals, and nine bus terminals.
These ambitious proposals will be implemented across all municipal councils in the Dar es Salaam region. Mwigulu Nchemba, Finance Minister, and Nathan Belete, World Bank Country Representative, sealed the agreement last week in the Treasury's Dar es Salaam sub-office.
Speaking to media after signing the loan agreement, Dr. Nchemba stated that the event is critical to the path of development of infrastructure in the Dar es Salaam Region and will modify the outlooks of many places in the region.
The current initiative is a continuance of the Third Development Strategy for 2023/26 and the result of the CCM Manifesto for 2020/25. Dr Nchemba stated that Phase Two will include modifying the road network to decrease congestion, constructing drainage systems, marketing infrastructure, and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's largest region, with 5.4 million population, and its port connects Tanzania and six other landlocked countries to the global market. We are proud of supporting those working for the development of this region, Mr Belete stated. Mr Mohamed Mchengerwa, Minister in the President's Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), stated that Phase Two of the DMDP will benefit all five district councils in Dar es Salaam by rebuilding roads, bus stations, marketplaces, and dump facilities.
Mr Mchengerwa stated that the construction is expected to start soon. So what they're expected to do now is start implementing it as soon as possible and issue tenders so that the work can begin in April, as promised, said Mr Ndugulile. Dar es Salaam MP (Special Seats, CCM) Mariamu Kisangi commended the government and WB for reaching that point, adding they had been looking forward to it and that the project will strengthen the region's road infrastructure.
