Chimbu road project gets K25mil

By JEFFREY ELAPA
THE government has allocated K25.728 million for the Kundiawa-Gembogl Road in Chimbu.
Minister for Works and Transport Francis Awesa announced yesterday’s  National Executive Council decision, as part of government’s plan to link up all districts and provinces.
It awarded the contract to Shorncliffe to upgrade and seal the 10.62km road.
He said Gembogl had potential for tourism and agriculture and the government wanted to encourage local participation by giving priority to the upgrading and sealing of the road.
He said the road would link Usino-Bundi in Madang and serve the two big mines in the area.
“I’m very happy to announce the government’s decision in front of Governor Fr John Garia because it has been a concern for him and the people of Chimbu for years,” Awesa said.
He said the government had not only funded the road project, but had identified the Kundiawa-Gembogl-Bundi road as one of the national impact transport projects to be brought under the public-private partnership programme.
He said there were seven other such projects the NEC had approved.
“Two of the national interest roads are now being developed as pilot projects under the public-private procurement modality. They are the Highlands Highway and the Gulf-SHP Highway, including the seaport development at Paia in Gulf,” he said