K40m for Central road

THE Works Department has begun a K40 million road project in the Rigo district of Central with funding assistance from the World Bank.
Secretary David Wereh told The National that the contract awarded to Lorma Construction was to upgrade and seal the road to Hula starting from the Gabagaba junction of the Magi Highway.
He said infrastructure was one of the priorities of the Government.
“It is Government’s priority that we provide efficient and effective services to our public and delivery of public service as well as supporting our businesses,” Wereh said.
“Once you cut off a bridge and a road, there are massive negative consequences on the people. So we need to make sure we build properly designed and reliable transport infrastructure.”
On next year’s budget, Wereh said they were still in talks with the Department of National Planning and Finance on some shortfalls.
“We are still in discussion due to the shortfalls here and there,” he said.
“It is important that I discuss with the National Planning Secretary and Finance and then we can see how we can fill some of those gaps and some of those ongoing commitments.
“Importantly, maintenance and upgrading of the existing transport infrastructure is priority number one. So let’s get the Kokoda highway done.
“We’ve built the bridges that were very much needed and we have now replaced those bridges that were affected during Cyclone Guba.”