Forex shortage delays South Rukuru Bridge

Fuel and forex shortages led to an escalation of the cost of South Rukuru Bridge on the M1 Road in Rumphi, officials have said.

Japanese and Malawian officials said this on Thursday when they conducted a switchover ceremony of traffic from the old Bailey bridge to the new concrete bridge constructed with funds from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

Jica Malawi resident representative Katsuro Saito said the economic challenges that hit Malawi in 2011 caused delays in most Jica infrastructure projects.

“This project was initially scheduled to be completed in April 2012, but was revised to October 2012 which resulted in cost overrun of the project budget and we faced the risk of scaling down the scope of the work,” Saito said.

Japan  Embassy charge d’affaires Shigenobu Kobayashi, who presided over the switch over with Minister of Transport and Public Works Mohammed Sidik Mia, said his government provided an additional K382 million besides the initial K3 billion.

“Japan decided to support Malawi by building this bridge in recognition of the vital importance of a good road network to the development of the country,” he said.

Mia thanked Japan for the project, advising the public to avoid vandalising roads in the country.

“It is sad to note that the very same people who are supposed to benefit from the use of the roads are the ones in the forefront vandalising road signs, guard rails, hand rails and marker posts,” said Mia.