A team from the Government of Sierra Leone comprising the Minister of Transport and Aviation Kabineh Kallon, Financial Secretary Sahr Jusu, Director-General Sierra Leone Roads Authority Ing. Amara kanneh and the World Bank Country Manager Abdu Muwonge has on Monday 6th June 2022 conducted an inspection of the Integrated and Resilience Urban Mobility Project sites at Lumley, Congo Cross and Ferry Junction in the east end of the city.
The main aim of the inspection visit is to assess the progress of work and also look at the challenges that are causing a delay in the implementation of the project.
This project is a $50m grant project that aims to improve the quality of public transport, address climate resilience, improve road safety in selected areas, and enhance institutional capacity in the transport sector.
During the discussions at the various sites between members of the team and contractors, it was clear that the project has suffered some serious delays in terms of implementation and timelines.
Some of the reasons for these delays range from administrative, procurement, late mobilisation by the contractors and others.
Speaking at one of the project sites at Lumley, the World Bank Country Manager, Abdu Muwonge raised the issue of the timeliness of the project.
He emphasised the need to have a committee of utility companies to be meeting regularly to discuss issues arising in relation to utilities along the project corridor.
He admonished contractors to improve on the speed of implementation to ensure that the project is completed in the shortest time possible.