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| TARURA is reshaping Tanga's roads, with 80% of projects finished, fostering better connectivity and supporting the region's development goals. |
The Rural and Urban Roads Authority (TARURA) in the Tanga region has made significant progress in implementing road infrastructure projects, with 80% of the projects for the 2024/2025 financial year already completed.
In a special interview, the Tanga TARURA Manager, Engineer George Tarimo, said that the remaining 20% of the projects are in the final stages and are expected to be completed according to the planned schedule.
Engineer Tarimo noted that these achievements are a result of effective project management and improved funding availability, highlighting that in previous years, TARURA relied heavily on the Road Fund as its main source of financing.
Discussing the current financial year 2025/2026, Engineer Tarimo mentioned that TARURA has already commenced the implementation of new projects, with 28 projects officially handed over to contractors for execution.
He added that a total of 125 road projects are expected to be executed in the Tanga region within this financial year, indicating a significant increase in budget and project scope compared to the past five years.According to Engineer Tarimo, a total of 37.7 billion shillings has been allocated for the implementation of road infrastructure projects in Tanga for the 2025/2026 financial year.
He stated that this funding comes from three main sources: 13.2 billion shillings from the Road Fund, 6.5 billion shillings from Regional Development Funds, and 7.4 billion shillings from fuel levies.
Additionally, he mentioned that the diversification and increase in funding sources have strengthened TARURA's capacity to execute multiple projects simultaneously and reduced reliance on a single funding source.
Engineer Tarimo further added that TARURA continues to rehabilitate road infrastructure despite the challenges posed by some of these infrastructures being deliberately damaged by individuals with malicious intent.
The streetlights along the roads have been identified as one of the areas contributing significantly to high electricity costs, prompting TARURA to begin replacing conventional electric lights with solar-powered ones.
This initiative has already commenced in certain locations and will continue alongside ongoing and future road rehabilitation projects in the region.
Furthermore, Engineer Tarimo said that TARURA is implementing a special strategy aligned with the policy of 30% ownership by the community, aimed at empowering residents of the respective areas to actively participate in the maintenance of road infrastructure.
This strategy is being executed through the Community-Based Routine Maintenance program, which enables residents to carry out minor road repairs and receive payment for their work.
The program is expected to initially launch in the areas of Korogwe, Lushoto, and Pangani, where community groups have already been registered, and it also aims to create jobs and strengthen community ownership of infrastructure.Engineer George Tarimo has urged the residents of Tanga region to protect and maintain the road infrastructure, emphasizing that the preservation of public resources is a crucial pillar in accelerating sustainable social and economic development in the region, leading to positive and productive outcomes in people's lives.