M1 section contractor’s delays irk minister

 Minister of Transport and Public Works Jacob Hara has expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress of the 42 million euros (about K53 billion) rehabilitation of the Lilongwe-Kasungu section of the M1.

During a spot-check, he described the contractor China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation and Jiangxi Transportation Engineering Group Limited partnership as having “serious capacity issues”.

Hara, himself a civil engineer, said this in his assessment of progress made on the M1 section between Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) junction in Lilongwe and Mzimba Turn-off following an inspection tour on Wednesday.

The section has three lots allocated to three contractors. Lot One from KIA junction to Kasungu is being implemented by the two Chinese contractors above.

Hara said the road’s construction starts with intensive quarry production, but during his inspection at the contractor’s quarry production site, he observed little progress.

Said the minister: “We didn’t even see the actual identification of the stone. We don’t have enough material for crashing and we haven’t seen the stone. It’s not yet uncovered.

“I am a bit worried about Lot One. The contractor has shown that there are serious capacity issues.”

However, he expressed optimism that the contractor will pick up, having ironed out administrative matters that slowed progress.

China Jiangxi representatives turned down a request for media interviews.

Meanwhile, Hara has expressed satisfaction with progress on the Second Lot from Kasungu to Jenda in Mzimba assigned to Mota- Engil and Lot Three from Jenda to Mzimba Turn-off under Unik Construction Engineering Limited.

He said said: “The other two contractors have erected quarry crashing plants. This is what we needed before we hit the road because of the way the road is going to be processed.

“It’s a requirement that the quarry must be ready because once we start milling on the road we will need the quarry immediately to cover the stabilised layers.”

But Kasungu North North East parliamentarian Paul Nkhoma, who was part of the inspection team, said he was concerned with the slow progress across all sections.

He urged government to find a way of terminating contracts of contractors that further delay the construction of the road.