Lilongwe City roads project costs double
Delayed execution of Kenyatta Road and Mzimba Street upgrading project in Lilongwe City have pushed the cost from a combined K28 billion to K62 billion, it has emerged.
The new costs came to light yesterday during a monitoring tour of the projects organised by the National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) and professional boards aimed at establishing the cause of delays in the completion of the road projects.
Initially, the Kenyatta Road, which runs from Parliament Roundabout in City Centre to Shoprite complex, was earmarked to cost K19 billion for the upgrading to six lanes with an overpass at the intersection with Mzimba Street.
On the other hand, Mzimba Street, which runs from Crossroad Roundabout to Lilongwe River bridge in Mchesi Township, was estimated to cost K9 billion.
But during the tour, Roads Authority (RA) project engineer James Makwakwa said the costs have increased because of some challenges faced in the implementation.
He said: “The Kenyatta Road project was initially expected to cost K19 billion, but after the adjustment it is coming up to K45 billion. For the Mzimba Street project, the cost has increased from an initial K9 billion to K17 billion.”
Makwakwa said on the Mzimba Street K3 billion-worth of works have been undertaken to date.
He said RA has since written the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) for approval for the need additional funds.
Said Makwakwa: “Contractors are looking at doubling the contract sum which is not a simple thing for the country. The cost overruns are big and, as Roads Authority, we are just an implementation.”
He said the relocation of bigger pipes with large diameters that belong to Lilongwe Water Board as well as Escom lines also affected execution.
In his remarks, NCIC chief executive officer Gerald Khonje said as professionals they were concerned on what is causing the delays.
“We have a mandate to monitor and follow up on all construction projects as NCIC. We did observe that the two projects had stalled and missed the deadline.
