RFA raises possibility of toll roads

The Road Fund Administration (RFA) has once again raised the possibility of introducing a toll system on national roads.The introduction of toll roads would help the fund broaden its revenue base, RFA CEO Ali Ipinge said at the launch of the parastatal's new five-year business plan.The RFA also intends to seek a 30 million euro loan from the German KfW development bank. These additional funds were necessary to help the RFA fulfil its mandate, Ipinge said.“The collection of sufficient and optimum revenue has been a challenge and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future, resulting in a backlog of maintenance on the national road network,” said Ipinge.He said a number of options were now on the table, including tolling on national roads.The RFA would also be looking to borrow from the market, Ipinge noted, but would not go into the specifics of what that would entail.Its business plan for the period 2017 to 2023 shows the possibility of the RFA accessing a 30 million euro loan facility from the KfW development bank for the upgrade of the road network.“The RFA, supported by a government guarantee, is yet to confirm a loan arrangement with KfW for an estimated N$492 million, with a pledged amount of 30 million euro to be converted to Namibian dollars at the applicable exchange rate,” Ipinge said.The loan, the RFA said, would go towards funding the rehabilitation of a 87.8-kilometre stretch of the B1 road between Keetmanshoop and Mariental, contribute towards the maintenance of urban streets, and contribute towards the operation of the Namibian Traffic Information System.RFA executive Rianus !Gonteb said the fund would make sure that its resource allocation to town councils would be fair and equitable. Funding would be based on a set of specified parameters such as the population of a town, its vehicle population and traffic counts.!Gonteb also announced that regional consultants had been appointed to assist town councils to motivate their requests for funding to upgrade roads.“They will plan, design and prepare tender documentation as well as help with the budgeting,” !Gonteb said.The consultants will also assist with the monitoring and the evaluation of road maintenance works in the towns, !Gonteb explained.Consultants were assigned to five regions, namely the northern, north-eastern, north-central, central and southern regions.OGONE TLHAGE

RFA raises possibility of toll roads

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-19

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RFA raises possibility of toll roads

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-19

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