K1bil boost for Ramu Highway

By DOROTHY MARK
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has announced a K1 billion Ramu Highway upgrade from Watarais in the Markham Valley of Morobe to Madang to be funded by a donor agency.
He made the announcement during the K77.5 million airport extension programme ground-breaking ceremony in Madang on Tuesday.
O’Neill said six new bridges between Madang and Watarais would be funded by the European Investment Bank.
Madang Works manager Andrew Kendaura said the bridges included Tapo, Wasigo, Waput, Drai Wara, Gusap and Bora.
O’Neill said the bridges would be double lane. He also announced a four-lane road for Madang from the airport into town.
“We are now putting cement in the town,” O’Neill said. “It took us five years to do this in Lae.
“We will do this for Madang too.”
He said one of the Government’s priorities after Apec was rural electrification funded by the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
He said 70 per cent of the rural population should access power by 2030.
“We are going to make sure the seven million people of this country receive power,” O’Neill said.
Governor Peter Yama requested for power to continue from Dibor to Bogia, which was granted by the prime minister on the spot.
O’Neill said the Government would ensure that power connected to Sumgilbar LLG in Sumkar and Bogia district.
He said the Government would also purchase a new vessel for Madang Resort Hotel to support tourism work.
O’Neill also announced that the K200 million PMIZ project would now be managed by the provincial government.
Yama, Sumkar MP Chris Nangoi, Usino-Bundi MP Jimmy Uguro, Rai Coast MP Peter Sapia and Middle-Ramu MP Johnny Alonk thanked the O’Neill-Abel Government and cabinet ministers who accompanied him on his visit.
“The visit was a blessing for Madang people because services we requested were committed to us on the spot,” Nangoi said.