Minister of Local Government, Civic Education and Unity Richard Chimwendo Banda has expressed satisfaction with the progress of Chichiri-Chinyonga and Makhetha-Ndirande bypass road projects in Blantyre City.

He said this on Wednesday in Blantyre when he inspected the two roads currently under construction.

Said Chimwendo Banda: “There is good progress on the ground and I am happy. We were here three months ago as we continue monitoring what is happening in the cities to ensure construction works are making progress.”

“Others sign a contract for six months and take two years to complete the projects.”

Ndirande-Makheta Road under construction

He said the Makhetha-Ndirande Road contractor was given six months and he asked for additional six months. The minister said he was happy with the progress and quality of the work.

On the Chichiri-Chinyonga Road, he said it will decongest traffic from the Masauko Chipembere Highway once complete.

“Government now plans to construct the Chilobwe Ring Road,” he said.

Chinyonga resident Jonas Phiri commended Blantyre City Council for constructing the roads, saying they will ease mobility in the city.

“The Chichiri-Chinyonga Road will cut the distance between Chinyonga, Kanjedza, Limbe and parts of Soche to Blantyre. I now ask the council to rehabilitate roads in residential areas such as Kanjedza, Chinyonga, Naperi, Nkolokosa and Manja,” he said.

A Makheta resident Esther Khamalata said the Ndirande-Makheta Road has cut the distance to Blantyre.

“Motorists to Blantyre will no longer use the Limbe-Blantyre Road, which will save time. It is also cheaper now to travel to Ndirande using motorcycle taxis who charge K500,” she said.

In January 2022, Blantyre City Council launched road projects, including Michiru-Likhubula, Newlands-Manje via Chiwembe, Old Zomba-Mapanga from Machinjiri to Mapanga joining Zomba Road link and Namiwawa-Sunnyside

The post  Blantyre bypass road projects excites minister first appeared on The Nation Online.