21 Aug 2018

Ministry of Transport and Communications is in the process of making the Department of Roads an autonomous entity to enable it to generate its own income.

 

Speaking during a kgotla meeting at Mabeleapudi, where he consulted on the construction of a by-pass road from the village to Serule, Minister Kitso Mokaila said making the department an autonomous entity would reduce government spending. 

 

He said already the department was endowed with professionals and where lacking, it would attract requisite skills in an endeavour to put the interests of Batswana first in the implementation of government projects.

 

"If the department could generate income, government would fast-track construction of tarred roads in volumes across the country, he said.

 

Minister Mokaila said he was hard at work to ensure there was a significant number of tarred roads constructed across the country before quitting politics next year. 

 

He said a vibrant and autonomous roads department would put an end to the use of consultants, which he said took home significant amounts in consulting fees.

 

He however found fault not with the consultants but with government. 

 

The minister said as an authority, the department  would among other things be able to design and do quantity surveying thereby saving government from profuse bleeding financially.

 

He said if the contractor failed to deliver a quality project, government would ensure that such a contractor did the projects anew at own expense.

 

On other issues, the minister said his ministry was planning to move bus ranks from city centres so as to ease traffic congestion. 

 

Where possible, he said,  bus ranks would be relocated so that only taxis could transport passengers between the city centres and ranks. ENDS