Roads Fund engages people on toll plaza

Roads Fund Administration has asked chiefs and civil society organisations in Mchinji District to provide people with credible information about tollgates.

Roads Fund public relations officer Masauko Mngwaluko said this yesterday during an extraordinary full council meeting on the toll plaza to be constructed at Mkonkha in Traditional Authority Mavwere in the district.

He said correct information on the toll plaza, whose construction works will start in December, will help clear negative attitudes towards the facility.

“With only fuel levies and road user charges, we cannot improve roads. There is an urgent need to diversify the Roads Fund revenue base because current collections are not enough to meet the annual roads maintenance requirements,” said Mngwaluko.

He also said toll plazas create job opportunities as they employ atleast 35 people each.

“The Chingeni and Kalinyeke toll plazas have so far recruited 70 staff,” said Mngwaluko.

Senior Chief Dambe appealed for the speedy construction of the toll plaza.

He said besides helping government raise funds for roads maintenance, the project will change the face of the district.

“We have been waiting for such type of development projects in Mchinji. The toll plaza will improve infrastructure in the district,” said Dambe.

The administration is also constructing toll plazas at Chileka on Lilongwe-Mchinji Road, Naluva on Lilongwe-Salima Road and Gwai on Kasungu-Jenda Road.

So far, Roads Fund has conducted awareness meetings in communities where it will construct the toll plazas. 

The plan to erect more tollgates come against the background of the administration collecting K3.2 billion from Chingeni and Kalinyeke tollgates by September 30 2022.

Chingeni Toll Plaza in Ntcheu opened in November 2021 while Kalinyeke Tollgate in Dedza was opened in January this year.