Thousands of Comorians turned up to witness the official opening of the $30 million road artery financed entirely by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The completion of a major road is expected to open up its agriculturally rich areas and provide reliable access to its popular tourist centres.
“This road will have a considerable impact on people’s lives. It plays an essential role in opening up areas with high economic potential for agriculture and tourism,” the AfDB Group President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said in his remarks during the inauguration of the 49.2-kilometre section of the National Road 2 (RN2) on Friday, July 5.
Alongside Adesina at the inauguration ceremony, which was the eve of the country’s 49th independence celebrations, was President Azali Assoumani of the Union of Comoros.
A statement by the AfDB noted that the new road is expected to offer huge benefits, including a 27% increase in average daily traffic along the route as well as reducing operating costs by 30% for cars and 33% for trucks. The roadway will reduce average journey times by 50%.
It added that the opening of the road section linking Moroni, the capital of Grande Comore (the main island of the Comoros archipelago), to Foumbouni region in the island’s south-east represents a major addition to the country’s much needed transport infrastructure development to serve as a catalyst for economic progress of the Comoros.
During the inauguration ceremony, President Assoumani acknowledged the support provided for completion of the road and thanked Dr Adesina for being present at the occasion.
“We are permanent partners. It is thanks to the African Development Bank and the intervention of its president, my dear brother Akinwumi Adesina, that we have built this road. We must continue to thank and encourage him,” President Assoumani stated.
