Dodoma roads, airport, bus terminal undergoing facelift to meet city status

Dodoma.  The government has expressed its commitment toward improving infrastructure in Dodoma to match the Capital City status, with airport expansion and refurbishment of road high on the agenda.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday during a debate on The Dodoma Capital City Declaration Bill, 2018, the Deputy Minister Works, Transport and Communications, Mr Atashasta Nditiye said during the current financial year, a total of Sh3.7 billion has been set aside as compensation to those who will be affected by the expansion of Dodoma airport.

"We plan to expand the airport by 150 meters…We are making sure that the money is paid out to those who will be affected by the expansion within two weeks from now," said Mr Nditiye.

The deputy Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youths and the Disabled), Mr Antony Mavunde, said in the current fiscal year a total of Sh5 billion has been set aside for construction of more tarmac roads in Dodoma.

He said Dodoma is only second from Kinondoni in Dar es Salaam in terms of having the widest network of tarmac roads network in Tanzania.

According to Mr Mavunde, Dodoma has a network of 130 kilometers of tarmac road network while Kinondoni has 136 kilometers.

He said the government recently signed a Sh78 billion contract for the construction of infrastructure including, a modern market and a bus stand in Dodoma. The planned ultra-modern bus station will accommodate 600 vehicles and several 'bajaji' at once.

The Minister of State in the President's Office (Regional Administration and Local Governments), Mr Suleiman Jaffo said Dodoma has what it takes to be Tanzania’s Capital City. The bill sailed through after an intense debate that saw MPs from the opposition bench opposing it on grounds that the decision came abruptly and that it was not budgeted for.