As Zanzibar celebrates 62 years of the Islands’ revolution, President Hussein Ali Mwinyi has just inaugurated the first ever overpass road in the archipelago.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Works, Ali Said Bakari said the maiden bridged flyover, which was built by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), had cost a total of 23.7 billion/- Tanzanian shillings upon completion.
The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) is the same firm which rehabilitates the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) on the mainland.
This new and first flyover on the Islands was launched at the Mwanakwerekwe District of Mjini Magharibi (Western Township) Region and is poised to ease transportation, in Unguja as well as transform the area’s profile and raise the value of real estate investments in the precinct.
The flyover inauguration ceremony took place just a day after President Mwinyi officially opened the newly constructed Isles’ Mombasa vegetable market, the first among several similarly planned structures.
“I understand there are some Zanzibar residents who gave up their plots of land and residential houses to pave way for the flyover project,” said President Mwinyi, adding that all those people will be handsomely compensated.
The overpass road will complement the proposed construction of a new consolidated harbor at Mpiga Duri and Shumba as well as another port at Wete in Pemba.
These projects are meant to open up the clove islands for international business and global maritime passage.
How big is Zanzibar?
The archipelago on the Indian Ocean which forms part of the United Republic of Tanzania measures some 2,461 square kilometers.
What about the Isles infrastructure?
There are two major corridors in the main Zanzibar Island (Unguja) and these include the Fumba-Kisauni Road and the Tunguu-Makunduchi Road, providing essential connectivity routes and economic growth on the archipelago.
The Fumba-Kisauni Road is a significant passageway stretching approximately 12 kilometers, linking the Fumba area to Kisauni.
On the other hand, the Tunguu-Makunduchi Road which rolls out at about 48 kilometers is the main corridor which plays a crucial role in linking the central areas of Unguja to the southern regions. It is part of a broader initiative to improve road infrastructure and connectivity across the island