By Binta Jaiteh
The National Assembly select committee on monitoring, implementation of government projects has been briefed with update on the projects of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation by officials of the works Ministry during OIC and National Road Agency meeting held at the parliament in Banjul.
Lawmaker, Honorable Sulayman Saho, the committee chair welcomed the update and commended the officials for what he described a good step.
“We want general update on the OIC project and also thank them for taking us at the intended projects plus the 20 roads and the Bertil Herding Highway. Since then, we feel it is necessary to engage your Ministry and relevant partners to update the committee for the progress, challenges and way forward,” he said.
Yankuba Dibba, CEO of OIC, said: “our primary role is to mobilize necessary resources leading to the success submit of OIC project. And as a secretariat we look at all the needs, capacity building and all the things that will enable The Gambia a successful project.”
“In the area of electricity and water projects the works are in progress and hope by the end of April and May tenders will be roll out,” he added.
Meanwhile, Modou Ceesay, PS of Ministry of Works, transport and infrastructure said the concept to expand Bertil Herding highway which he said is 22 kilometres is “for two dual ways in a reserved way of 10 metres.”
It “is an important concept infrastructure project not only to ease traffic congestion in the urban – Greater Banjul Area that but also a critical infrastructure component of OIC upcoming Submit later in 2022. Along the Bertil Herding Highway 50 kilometers roads which includes 20 roads put together during the construction process,” he explained.
He added: “The funding packages they also authorize us to embark on advance procurement process. We can kick start the procurement of both contractors and consultant submit for approval even before finalizing the funding.”
“The essence of the Bertil Herding Highway construction of 20 roads is to create alternatives to minimize traffic congestions. Traffic conditions going towards traveling is very chaotic and the whole idea is to come up with a road that will of course minimize congestion and shorten our traveling destinations. We have already kick started, the small subsection over swampy areas of sting corner and it has been concreted,” he said,
He added that “the 50kilometers circulation is also key in the transportation sectors,” NRA MD Momodou Seghore disclosed.
