03 Aug 2015

The 10-year Botswana Integrated Transport Project (BITP), which commenced in 2009, is still at infancy stage.

The primary objective of the project was to enhance the efficiency of transport system by building modern business management capacity and improving the strategic planning aspects of inter-regional transport and critical transport infrastructure.

However, Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo told Parliament that the most noteworthy progress was start of a long term Output and Performance-based Road Contracting (OPRC) model contracts, which was a major BITP component.

Minister Mabeo was responding to Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa who had wanted to know the status of BITP and if the country was doing well in terms of the implementation of the BITP and when should Batswana expect to see the actual commencement of the project.

Thus, Mr Mabeo said OPRC was a modern method of road asset management that was introduced as a pilot in Botswana, specifically in the southern region and was budgeted at over 60 per cent of the total BITP budget.

He said the first phase of the project entailed preparation of conceptual designs followed by the signing of long-term contracts with contractors responsible for detailed designs and rehabilitation works, as well as maintenance of the OPRC road networks.

Mr Mabeo noted that there were delays in the OPRC conceptual designs as the initial consultancy contract was terminated in September 2010 for non-responsiveness to the consultancy terms of reference.

He said the next consultancy was then commenced in February 2012, and the concept designs completed by end of December, while the bidding process for OPRC long term contracts was started in 2013.

Furthermore, Mr Mabeo said two OPRC civil works contracts covering approximately 335 km of road network were signed with a company from Spain in February 2014 for 10-year contract periods, two packages.

The road network for package one covers 123.5km of main road sections being Mmankgodi Junction-Kanye-Jwaneng and 52.5km of access roads to Kanye, Moshana, Selokolela, Sesung, Sese, Lotlhakane West, Moshupa loop and Moshupa Kgotla roads.

Package two covers 144km of main road sections being Rakhuna-Tlhareseleele-Pitsane-Phitshane Molopo-Mabule and 15.9km of access roads to Dikgotla in Rakhuna, Tlhareseleele, Pitsane, Cwaanyaneng, Tswagare, Mokgomane, Sedibeng, Phitshane Molopo, Leporung, Dikhukhung, Mmakgori and Tshidilamolomo.

The minister noted that the signed OPRC contracts were for design, rehabilitation, network performance and periodic maintenance.

Meanwhile, Mr Mabeo said the introduction of modern traffic management and technical solutions to effectively reduce traffic congestion in Gaborone also formed part of the BITP.

He said specific projects for reducing traffic congestion in greater Gaborone included the improvement of traffic signaling system establishment of centralised traffic control centre, construction of three grade separated interchanges along KT Motsete Road and public transport modernisation.

He said those projects were recommended through the Greater Gaborone Multi-modal Transport Study (GGMTS) that was completed in July 2011. Ends