Egodini project takes shape
the project.
“Everything is moving as per planned; we are now putting final touches to the vending stalls and the taxi ranks, the columns, rafters and purlins have been installed and the roofing sheets have been delivered on site and they will also be going up in the coming few days. In the next two weeks we will be moving to kerbing, paving and asphalt, all the procurements have been made and it’s all systems go, come November we will surely be handing over Phase 1A of this project,” said Mr Tshabalala.
He said they will soon start working on the allocation of vending bays, in conjunction with the Bulawayo City Council, where they will give priority to those that had been operating at Egodini before its closure.
“We are fully aware of the congestion in the city centre with the closure of Egodini, which is why we agreed to take a phased approach to the project where we are getting sections handed over as per priority and we are working with BCC on this aspect. By November we are bringing back the vendors and the taxis, straight after that we move to Phase 1B which will be the construction of the bus rank and other amenities but what’s important is we are now bringing traffic into the rank which will make the next phases to just easily fall into place,” said Mr Tshabalala.
In an interview, city’s Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni said they were satisfied with progress to date. He said the handing over of Phase 1A would bring a solution to the traffic congestion problem they were facing at Herbert Chitepo Street and 6th Avenue up to Lobengula Street.
“We think that the problem of vendors who have invaded public roads and undesignated sites and causing unprecedented littering will be eased by relocation of some of them to Egodini. We want to assure concerned residents and stakeholders that the main Mall will still be built. There are no changes in designs and plans as being reported in some sections of the media. As a city we will honour our side of the contractual obligations. We expect the investor to do the same,” said Clr Mguni.