Friday, November 22, 2024
HomeFeaturesConnect PNG Bill approved

Connect PNG Bill approved

PRIME Minister James
Marape’s dream to fully
connect the country by road
will soon be realised. In fact, he
says, by 2040 this should be reality.
“I am very excited that my Government
has made a historical and momentous
decision and got the approval of 78
Members of Parliament to pass an important
piece of legislation which is
called Connect PNG (Implementation
and Funding) Bill 2021. I acknowledge
the support of the Opposition in
the passage of this Bill,” Marape said
in a media release.
“This legislation guarantees 5.6%
(equating to K1 billion per year) of
forecasted revenues annually to fund
the Connect PNG Road Infrastructure
Development Programme from 2020-

  1. The ultimate aim is to achieve
    100% road connectivity for PNG by
  2. This country could have been
    fully connected some years ago, however,
    our governments in the past did
    not see the importance of roads for
    PNG’s development.
    “My Government has seen that without
    connecting the country with better
    roads, we will still lag behind on all development
    indicators on which basis
    PNG is categorised as lower middle income
    country and placing it on 155 our
    185 countries on the Human Development
    Index.
    “With this legislation in place, I now direct
    the Department of Works to get to
    work. The mainland must be connected
    by road so that our people can drive
    from Wutung Border Post in Sandaun
    Province to East Cape in Alotau, Milne
    Bay Province. I would like to see our
    people from the Momase and Highlands
    Regions celebrate our 50th Independence
    Anniversary in the National
    Capital District in 2025. I would like to
    see the people of West New Britain and
    East New Britain fully connected by
    road so that opportunities for socioeconomic
    development are harnessed
    and exploited through increased accessibility.
    “I can confidently assure the people
    PNG that our people and our country
    will never be the same again after it is
    fully connected by roads. My government
    has broken the status quo of borrowing
    and maintaining existing roads
    rather than rehabilitating and constructing
    the Missing Link roads so that PNG
    is fully connected by roads.
    “In terms of the rolling 20 year programme,
    we will develop, rebuild, and
    sustain 16,200km of strategic roads
    comprising 4,200km of Priority National
    Roads, 1,800km of strategic
    Missing Link Roads (new road constructions),
    9,000km of Provincial and
    District Roads, and 2,000m of bridges.
    These capital works are equally distributed
    in all regions so that all our people
    have an equal opportunity for participation
    in the development opportunities
    generated by these roads.”
    Marape says after the roads have been
    brought upto good conditions, the PNG
    Road Fund will assume responsibility
    for routine maintenance and sustainability
    of these roads.
    “I acknowledge the good work of the
    PNG Road Fund Board that consist of
    the Secretaries For Treasury, National
    Planning, Transport, Finance State Solicitor
    and Works.
    “I encourage investors to take full advantage
    of the public investment roads
    by appraising investment opportunities
    and start investing and developing our
    natural resources and creating jobs for
    our people. The roads are a catalyst for
    this to happen as efficient transportation
    systems reduce costs in many sectors
    of the economy.
    “When transport systems are efficient,
    they provide economic and social opportunities
    and benefits that result in
    positive multiplier effects such as better
    accessibility to markets, employment
    and additional investments. When
    transport systems are deficient in terms
    of capacity or reliability, they incur economic
    costs such as reduced or missed
    opportunities and lower quality of life.”
    The Prime Minister said the Government
    has commenced implementing
    the Connect PNG Programme in 2021
    and will continue in 2022 with a total
    allocation of K710 million (that is more
    than 46.7% of the Transport Sector Allocation)
    from a total allocation of
    K1,519.1 million for the Transport Sector
    (17.6% of the total Capital Investment
    Budget).
    The 20-year-implementation plan
    It is important to note that no region or
    province will miss out in terms of roads
    under the Connect PNG Programme,
    Marape says. All the Strategic (Economic)
    Road Corridors (mentioned in
    the table here) already cover a cluster
    of other roads. For example, New
    Britain Corridor includes South West
    Coast Highway to connect Pomio District,
    Karimui Road is under Baiyer
    Corridor (Madang-Baiyer-Karamui-
    Gulf), and the Border Corridor includes
    Hela, Southern Highlands. Western and
    Sandaun Provinces. These and other
    roads are included in the 9,000km of
    Provincial Trunk Roads.
    “I acknowledge the contribution of
    all our development partners to the
    transport sector over the years. I
    strongly recommend that our development
    partners review and realign
    their planned assistance to the road
    sector to ensure that the priorities of
    the Connect PNG Programme are
    delivered.
    “At this juncture, I congratulate the
    Minister for Works, Hon Michael Nali
    and his Secretary Mr. David Wereh and
    their staff for the effort put into the
    Connect PNG (Implementation and
    Funding) Bill 2021.
- Advertisment -spot_img

Most Popular

error: Content is protected !!