K300mil loan for road links under final consultation

WORK on the K300 million Madang to Baiyer highway under the Indian Exim Bank funding is going through the process of finalising consultancy as required, an official says.
Department for Works and Implementation secretary David Wereh told The National that there would be consultants to do the front end engineering feasibility studies and design work.
“We need to demonstrate that the project is economically viable,” he said.
“We want to see the clear benefits during the service life of the road.
“It will involve construction of a new missing link, a new green field and the upgrading of existing roads from both ends – Madang and Baiyer.”
Wereh said there were four to five missing links identified.
“Not all parts of the country are connected and people have been isolated for many years,” Wereh said.
“For the first time the Connect PNG policy under the missing link target is to reach the unreached.
“We are focusing at Telefomin, Maramuni, Finchhafen, opening up the head of Simberigi over the next five years.
“Works in reaching this places are already in progress.
“We are working in partnership with the local authorities, community leaders and MPs.
“The aim is to work together.”
Wereh said the rough terrains and social issues become impediments to the progress of these infrastructure projects.
“People have to respect these projects, take ownership of them and work together with the Government so we could provide road links to these remote tribes, villages
“Plans for Gulf, Southern Highlands and Hela coming through Simberigi, Erave are in progress.
“We have 12-kilometres more to go with the bridge on the Simberigi link.
“Our local contractors are pushing with cooperation from the locals under very tough conditions and we are confident in the first half of this year we should open the Erave-Simberigi linking Gulf and Southern Highlands,” Wereh said.