By Linda Kwanjana
The long awaited M1 rehabilitation project will soon spin into full swing. Mota Engil on Saturday assured President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera that they have completed mobilization of all necessary equipment ready to kick off the project.
Chakwera, on his way from the North, took time to tour inspect the progress of the rehabilitation works at Chatoloma Quarry Site and Katema Village in Kasungu.
Mota Engil officials assured President Chakwera that they have mobilised all the equipment and construction materials in readiness for actual construction works.
Recently Minister of Transport and Public Infrastructure Jacob Hara admitted that delays in the rehabilitation of the M1 will lead to the increase in the contract sum for the four slots of the road.
The project has delayed to take shape due to, among others, changes in designs for the road, delays in setting up sites but also quarry crashing machines and delays in getting approvals for environmental and social management plans (ESMPs).
Speaking during a tour of Lot Four of the road which commences at Kacheche to Chiweta in Rumphi District the minister was, however, optimistic that the delay was to ensure quality works.
The 66.6-kilometre (km) long stretch is being constructed by China Henan Internat ional Corporation Group to the tune of K31.8 million euro (about K45 billion).
Hara said contractors needed time to set up, but also change of designs as what was initially planned is not what is happening so that the road is built in a better manner.
Lot 1, which covers 102 km, starts from Kamuzu International Airport Turn-off to Kasungu] has a project period of 30 months while Lot 2, an 85.5 km stretch from Kasungu-Jenda is for 18 months.
Lot 3, covering 46.7km from J enda-Mzimba Turn-off is expected to be completed in 15 months and Lot 4, covering 66. 5 km from Kacheche-Chiweta, is to be completed in 24 months.
The European Union (EU) is funding the project to the tune of 139 million euro.
