Public Works Minister Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan has assured that there will be “no variations” in government road projects across the country. He said all public roads will be implemented consistent with standard specification, design and government’s Pro-Poor Policy, according to a LINA report.
Speaking to a team of reporters in Gbarnga recently, Minister Nyenpan said government is not only building roads across the country for the sake of building roads, and pledged that roads that are built will withstand the test of time and be long-lasting.
He emphasized that whenever there is any variation or suspicion of variation of design, the Ministry of Public Works will quickly step in, adding, “This is the reason the ministry has assigned consultants (project engineers) in the fifteen political subdivisions of the country.”
Nyenpan explained that the ministry’s recent action to halt the Gbarnga Broad Street pavement in Bong County was a result of the contractor deviating from the initial design, noting that the action was meant to make good use of the people’s money.
Meanwhile, Minister Nyenpan is admonishing citizens of Bong and other counties that whenever concerns are expressed about the quality of work, the matter should be urgently forwarded to the ministry so that the error can be immediately rectified.
Mr. Nyenpan disclosed that the Gbarnga Broad Street pavement is not the only road project to be undertaken by government in Bong County, noting that some major roads in the city will be paved as well.
He put the total cost of the projects at nearly US$3 million.
It can be recalled that the Ministry of Public Works halted the Gbarnga Broad Street pavement as a result of variation in the road design when it was reduced by the contractor from 7.9 meters to 7.3 meters.
Few months ago, following government’s prompt intervention to halt the project, the Ministry of Public Works mandated the contracted company to revert to the project’s original design in close consultation with the county resident engineer.
The company was also mandated to add sidewalk to the new pavement to provide space for pedestrians.