The Katsina State Executive Council has approved N74.5 billion for the construction of nine new roads within the state capital.
The initiative aims to enhance urban infrastructure and foster improved business activities across the city.
The State Commissioner for Works, Housing, and Transport, Engineer Sani Magaji Ingawa, disclosed this after the inaugural session of the State Executive Council for the year.
Chaired by Governor Dikko Umar Radda, the council convened to deliberate on key developmental projects.
Ingawa said the project included construction of the eastern bypass, stretching from Dutsin-ma road to Kano road, passing through Daura road and terminating at Yandaki village in Kaita Local Government area.
He added that the project involved dualisation of the Katsina Central Mosque road through Kofar-Marusa to Kiddies roundabout which terminates at WTC roundabout.
“Another area to be dualised is the Yandaki-Shinkafi to Kofar-Sauri road in the metropolis,” he said.
The commissioner said another project was the extension of the dual carriageway from Airport Junction to the proposed bye-pass along Daura road.
Other projects are the extension of the dual carriageway from Barhin Estate to the proposed bye-pass along Mani road and dualisation of Water Board Roundabout through Kofar-Sauri to Katsina Central Mosque.
He said the road behind Central Police Station to Kofar kaura underpass would also be dualised, adding that the projects have been awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) with expected completion period of 24 months.
According to Ingawa, the contracts for the projects were awarded under the State Urban Renewal Project, saying it would significantly improve urban infrastructure and boost business activities.
The Commissioner said two of the nine roads will be prioritized in the first phase, along with the Kofar Soro to Kofar Guga road approved by the previous administration, at a cost of thirty-eight billion naira. The first phase roads include the eastern bypass from Umaru Musa Yaradua University (UMYU) to Yandaki and Central Mosque-Kiddies to WTC Roundabout.
The execution of the projects would begin February.
The State Commissioner for Finance, Bashir Tanimu Gambo, assured that the state government is financially equipped to mobilize the construction firm promptly. An agreement between the state government and the construction firm will be signed to prevent variations in the project scope.
The Katsina State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Dr. Faisal Umar Kaita, also said the government is contemplating cluster arrangements at the Fatima Baika Central Market in Katsina to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
The state government reaffirms its commitment to preserving historical landmarks during project execution.
