South Sudan roads ministry unveils 10-year plan
January 18, 2012 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s roads and bridges minister, Gier Chuang Aluong, spoke to journalists at a press conference in Juba on Tuesday about a 10-year strategic plan that seeks to address the country’s devastated infrastructure, worsened by more than two decades of civil war.
Aluong said the 2012-2022 plan aims to build 12,640km of road across the entire country, including over 7,300km of inter-state roads.
The 10-year plan also includes the construction of bridges connecting Juba, the South Sudan capital, to the nine state capitals.
Aluong did not provide an estimated cost but the roads and bridges ministry is reportedly the second best funded ministry in the country’s budget, after defence.
Aluong said that the improved transport infrastructure would “increase domestic trade, boost economic growth and hence create more employment opportunities”. It would also better link South Sudan to its East African neighbours.
To date, six bridges have been completed in Juba alone, with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Also, more than 60 bridges across South Sudan have reportedly been renovated, courtesy of donor funding.
Aluong said efforts are also under way to establish South Sudan Roads Authority (SSRA); an autonomous body that will be tasked with the management, development and rehabilitation of all roads in the country.
Flanked by his deputy, Simon Majok Majak, the minister cited landmines, inadequate funds, insecurity, fluctuation in fuel prices and inexperienced contractors as some of the major challenges the ministry still faces in efforts to fulfil its mandate.
Last year, the roads and bridges ministry and JICA signed a technical agreement that will see JICA construct a 650m bridge across the river Nile in South Sudan at an estimated cost of US$90m.
JICA has undertaken similar projects in the Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo (when it was known as Zaire); and plans are under way to construct a bridge in Uganda.
(ST)