The South Sudan minister of roads and bridges has confirmed that a delay in the disbursement of funds has stalled the construction of the Juba-Torit-Nadapal road project.
Early this month, Eastern Equatoria State officials reported that works on the 365-kilometer stretch road running through Torit, Kapoeta, and Nadapal-at the border with neighboring Kenya have stalled over lack of funds.
Work on the road commenced in August 2020 by the lead contractor the African Resources Corporation (ARC) and was expected to take four years.
The Juba-Torit section of the highway has been graded with gravel up to Torit town but work could not continue say for bush clearance from Torit to Kapoeta and Nadapal by companies subcontracted by ARC.
During an inspection visit to the Luri Bridge with Members of the Standing Specialized Committee for Roads and Bridges at the National Assembly (R-TNLA), Minister Simon Mijok Mijak attested that funds for the Juba-Torit-Nadapal Highway had not been released.
“I am the minister of roads and bridges and I can testify that the funds allocated for Juba-Torit-Nadapal roads are not yet out and I am happy the parliamentarians are with me,” Minister Mijok responded to Radio Tamazuj’s query on the road’s progress.
He, however, pointed out that he was not aware that work on that road had stopped.
“I am not informed that work has stopped, but I can say there are subcontractors engaged by ARC and the cash flow paying contractors can affect, the importation of equipment, the fuel,” he said.
The minister said the construction company will move equipment from the bridge construction site in Luri Bridge to the Juba-Torit road construction site.