RA, ORC discuss road infrastructure network

OTJIWARONGO, 13 JUL – Otjozondjupa Regional Leadership held a meeting with the Roads Authority (RA) to discuss the new and existing road infrastructure network in the region.
The meeting was headed by the Governor of Otjozondjupa Region Otto Ipinge and was also attended by constituency councillors of Grootfontein, Okakarara, Omatako and Otjiwarongo.
Ipinge told the RA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Conrad Lutombi to prioritise the upgrading of the road between Grootfontein and Tsumkwe to a bitumen standard, and also re-gravel the Okahandja-Ovitoto road as a matter of urgency.
“Those two roads should be a top priority among all your road construction activities planned to take place in Otjozondjupa, and of course yes the rest can follow,” he said.
The Governor, however, commended Lutombi for a job well-done by his company in maintaining the national roads and bringing in the dual carriage roads underway at major sections of the busy public roads.
On his part, the RA CEO updated Ipinge that his office has a five-year strategic plan already approved by the Ministry of Works and Transport, in which new detailed road projects that need upgrading, re-graveling and re-sealing are outlined.
He said implementation of the five-year plan will start in the next 30 days and assured Ipinge that the Tsumkwe and Ovitoto roads are also contained in the document.
He also reported that the dual carriage tarred road between Okahandja-Windhoek currently under construction is progressing well, adding that his office is determined to complete it under a stipulated period of time.
“We also have in our strategic plan the upgrading of the vehicle testing centre of Otjiwarongo, and the setting up of a new one at Tsumkwe to deliver services there close to the people since they travel long distances (271 kilometres) to access services at Grootfontein NATIS offices,” Lutombi highlighted.
His visit to the region was aimed at meeting the regional leadership so that together they can agree on a number of new planned tar and gravel roads to come in the region.
(NAMPA)