Roading problems raise vehicle issues

 THE debate on road infrastructure development has raised a serious concern on the monitoring of vehicles brought into the country and the need to prioritise rural roads development. 

In Parliament yesterday, deputy opposition leader and Bulolo MP Sam Basil questioned the lack of consideration and monitoring of vehicles coming into the country when there is a lack of proper road infrastructure throughout.

Basil said while the rural areas lacked proper roads, there was still an influx of vehicles entering the country.

“We are calling 2013 as year of implementation and we need vehicles especially in rural areas whether second hand or not because people need to deliver or benefit from this economic progress,” he said.

“At the same time we imposed higher taxes to reduce vehicles rather than us improving and increasing road capacity. 

“We must decide between too many vehicles on the road that will assist in the socio-economic development of the country or whether road congestion in the urban centres riddled with potholes worse than gravel roads in many rural areas or electorates.” 

Basil said the shortage of properly constructed and well maintained road infrastructure, especially in the urban areas, was the issue the government should immediately consider if it planned to improve road networks and infrastructure through out the country and ease traffic problems.