Juba—Bor transport fare hikes
July 30, 2011 (MALAKAL) – The tradition of Juba—Bor transport fares
increasing during the rainy season. Travellers pay between 80—100 South
Sudanese Pounds as federal ministry of transport hint on delays to
commence the construction work on the damaged highway.
up-grading Juba—Bor road in 2007 but halted the work abruptly after
covering a few kilometres into Jonglei state territory. Though
measuring about 200 kilometres (129 miles), it takes car drivers
between 6—8 hours to cover that length during the wet season due to
several loopholes submerge in water on the shallow—mud road that have
to be driven through with a lot of care. But drop to between 3—5 hours
during dry seasons.
In a meeting on Saturday July 30 in Juba between Jonglei state
governor Kuol Manyang and south Sudan caretaker minister of roads and
transport Lino Makana, the hopes of constructing Juba—Bor road vanished
due “lack of fund”.
Minister Makana said he is “taking this issue seriously personally but
without money, there is nothing I can do,” he stated following the meeting. The minister added that “that road is a priority…because Jonglei state is very important” and even went
ahead to pledge tarmac.
The minister, nevertheless, revealed that the construction of Juba—Bor
road is included in the 2011 national budget but the ministry of
finance lacks funds. He added that once the money is ready, the work
will start. It is not immediately clear why the fund is then
unavailable.
Sudan Tribune was unable to contact ministry of finance
in Juba for comment.
IMPATIENCE CITIZENS
Jonglei state governor Kuol Manyang made road construction a priority
since taking office in December 2007 but the real work is yet to
start. The governor has made promises of persuading Juba government to
release funds for the building in numerous public messages in Bor.
In a Sudan Tribune’s interview at the edge of South Sudan Independence
Day celebration on 8 July, governor Kuol warned that tribal peace
talks will not materialize if roads are not built to ease police mobility.
“There are no roads now for police to move easily,” said governor Kuol
when asked what really challenges what he described as “ill-equipped
police” in maintaining peace in the vast state.
But without the commencing of construction on Juba—Bor road, chances
that other constructions will commence in Jonglei are minimal. During
rains seasons, expensive air transport becomes the only way to reach
Bor, the capital of Jonglei. Travelling to interior counties is
significantly reduced in that period. In 2010, Eyat and Pavement
companies, belonging to Khartoum based government, started to work on
the so-called ‘Unity Roads’ but the project collapsed after south
Sudanese voted for secession from the north.
The citizens of Jonglei state are now impatience having “so longed”.
“People in Bor town and Jonglei state as a whole are totally forgotten
by the ministry of transport in Juba,” said John Deng, a frequent
traveller between Juba and Bor in a telephone interview with the Sudan
Tribune from Bor. “It is time for action to speak because we had
waited for long,” he said when asked to react to transport minister
Makana2s statement on SSTV of lack of funds for Juba—Bor.
Meanwhile, mini (small buses) and big passenger buses had now ceased
travelling between Bor and Juba due to the damaged road despite
doubling the fares recently to 80 South Sudanese Pounds. Other
four-wheeled vehicle known generally as “Land Cruisers” now charge at 100 South
Sudanese pounds. And as such, flights for small planes will now
resume. The planes agents put fares at 300 South Sudanese Pounds
limiting travelling during these seasons to “able” citizens.
(ST)