By Kemo Cham
Sierra Leone’s toll system will be the cheapest in the world in terms of charges, the head of the Toll Road Sensitisation has said.
Mohamed Sahid Koroma also said the road under construction is also unique in that it is open, whereas toll roads elsewhere in the world were closed and require payment before usage.
The 62km road project which runs from Wellington in the east end of Freetown to Masiaka in the north of the country is being constructed by the China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) under a Build, Operate and Transfer agreement with the government. The US$161million road project entails the expansion of the stretch of road from two lanes to four lanes.
The Chinese last month released the price list for the toll charges as they announced plans to commence levying fees for the use of the road earlier than expected. The announcement triggered huge public outcry over the decision to commence charging with only about 10km of the road completed.
The government and CRSG say this is in line with the content of the agreement which was approved by parliament.
The biggest concern of the public is on the fees, which range from Le4, 500 for sedan vehicles to Le973, 000 for trailers for the entire stretch of the toll road. Motorists will pay one third of the total fee for the entire stretch at every one of three toll gates starting fro, Hastings.
The Drivers’ Union of Sierra Leone is one of the most vocal voices against the pricing system and its leaders are urging the government to review it.
CRSG had intended to commence levying charges at the beginning of July but due to the public outcry the time was postponed to August.
Meanwhile, the Chinese firm has hired the services of the Youth Ministry to sensitise the public ahead of this.
Koroma, who is also head of the Project Management Unit in the Ministry of Youth Affairs, is in charge of the sensitization efforts involving some 60 youths who have been embarking on community outreach enlightening the public about the benefits of the toll system. Koroma told this writer in an interview that Sierra Leoneans should accept the initiative because it is the best anywhere in terms of charges.
“These prices were professionally worked on to ensure that we have the cheapest in the entire sub region or in fact in the whole world,” he said.
Koroma also claimed that while toll roads in other countries are closed with giant slabs on their sides to prevent entry by unauthorized vehicles, in Sierra Leone drivers plying the route up to certain distance will be allowed to use the road without having to pay. This, he said, makes the country’s toll system unique.
Sierra Leone’s toll road will be the second toll system in the Mano River Union after Ivory Coast’s, which was inaugurated in 2014.
The deal with CRSG entails that the construction period for the road will last for four years. The government says it will provide job opportunity for the youths during construction period and operation. It also says it will open up traffic especially on the Wellington – Waterloo highway which is often congested, forcing vehicles to spend hours on the road.
Government officials have also pointed to the fact that the expended road will open up trade within Sierra Leone and between the country and neighboring countries.
While the Driver’s Union admitted to the existence of the benefits, they say the proposed charges are so huge that they would impact negatively on the ordinary people.
Critics fear the prospect of commercial transport owners increasing their fares in response to the toll charges. They say this could, by extension, impact on the prices of basic food stuff.
There has also been criticism of the lack of an alternative route to the toll road.