South Africa: Public buy-in key to toll road success
2 March 2012
Engineering News - March 1st, 2012
Political support and efficient communication between the public, concessionaires and governments are key to toll road implementation in Africa, African Investment Infrastructure Managers infrastructure equity fund manager Mikesh Pema said on Thursday.
“It is cardinal to get public buy-in to ensure successful toll road implementation in Africa. This can be achieved by focusing on effective customer service. The public must see the benefit of paying toll fees and concessionaires should seek to deliver continued improvement,” he stated at the sixth Africa Roads convention, in Sandton...
Pema said toll roads could assist African governments in acquiring needed capital to maintain and upgrade road infrastructure.
“Governments across the continent simply do not have sufficient funds to build roads and are also increasingly accepting private investment as a solution to improve road infrastructure in Africa.”
Bakwena Platinum Corridor CEO Graeme Blewitt added that toll roads could play a key role in unlocking South Africa’s resources wealth, adding that the primary trade routes into South Africa, especially from landlocked countries in the Southern African Development Community supported toll roads.