THE Rural Roads Unit (RRU) in Eastern Province this year received K13.5 million out of a total budget of K20.8 million for road reconstruction and rehabilitation works.
Acting RRU regional engineer Charles Thole said 175 kilometres of roads were reconstructed out of a target of 250 Kilometres in Nyimba, Petauke, Katete, Mambwe, Vubwi, Sinda and Chipata districts.
Mr Thole said K2.6 million was spent on road equipment to enhance the operations of the unit.
He noted that K2 million was spent on 20 drainage structures at various points in the province.
Mr Thole was speaking when he inspected the Nyati/Simambumbu road in Petauke district which was constructed under the 2011 budget but whose drainage structure were being fixed under the 2014 Budget.
The construction of the Nyati/Simambumbu road at the cost of K645,000, which started in 2011, was completed in 2012.
He said he inspected the road to check on the drainage structure which were recently constructed and observed that the fixing of culverts on the 25 kilometre stretch would increase the lifespan of the road from one to two years.
Meanwhile, motorists in the area have commended government for improving the feeder road which they said has eased transportation of their farm produce to Petauke from Ukwmi and Simambumbu.
Duncan Lungu said farmers used to face difficulties accessing markets and that it was now easy to ferry the goods using the newly constructed road. — ZANIS