Kundiawa-Gembogl road gets K30 million

THE Government last week approved K30 million for the upgrade and repair of the Kundiawa-Gembogl road.
An elated Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Joe Mek Teine wasted no time to praise the Government for realising the plight of his people in Gembogl which made up half the population of his electorate.
“I thank the Government for the final approval of funding for the road because Mt Wilhelm, PNG’s highest mountain and a tourist icon, is situated in Gembogl,” Mr Teine said.
He pursued with determination to secure funding from the Government to upgrade and seal the road over the past two and half years.
“The cabinet approved the funding in a special session in Port Moresby last Tuesday,” he said.
The money would be used for counter-part funding with Asian Development Bank (ADB) and his joint district budget and priority committee (JDBPC).
Mr Teine also confirmed that Shorncliffe Construction Company had won the contract  and would begin work on the road soon.
The total cost for the road would be K41 million to come from ADB (K10 million), National Government (K30 million) and Mr Teine’s JDBPC (K1 million).
Mr Teine said the road would be a vital link to Madang seaport via Mondia Pass to Kurumbikari, Yandera and Marengo mines in the Usino Bundi area.
He will launch a K3 million fleet of equipment later this month for non-stop upgrading work on the road.
About 50,000 people of the Mitnande and Niglkande local level governments in Gembogl rely on selling fresh vegetables for their livelihood and bad roads had affected their income.
Gembogl has 12 primary schools, one provincial high school, more than 25 elementary schools, one vocational centre, four health centres, many churches, public servants and Gembogl sub-districts and Digicel towers in four locations.