Toll plazas to have e-toll cards

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 15:08:11 +0000

By MAILESI BANDA

 THE National Road Fund Agency (NRFA), will this year introduce electronic payment at toll plazas as part of its plan to enhance efficiency in the collection of revenue.

NRFA chief executive officer, Wallace Mumba said the move to introduce innovative mode of payments that will include electronic toll cards and mobile phone payments will enhance efficiency.

Mr. Mumba said NRFA will develop distribution channels to ensure wide presence of tolls around the country in conjunction with private sector players.

“As part of the evolving technology we have decided to introduce innovative payment solutions which will be efficient for the customers,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Zambian road sector will require approximately K6 million per year for the next three years to escalate the gap between the available funds and the requirements considering the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, (MTEF).

In the MTEF, figures for 2016 stand at K1.6 billion, 2017 was at K2.9 billion while the year 2018 is at K5.5 billion.

According to the NRFA 2016 annual report, key among the locally funded projects in the road sector are the Link Zambia 800, Pave Zambia 2000 and the construction of the US$162 million Kazungula Bridge.

The report reveals that with the L8, 000 a total of 33 works contracts were ongoing covering a 3, 200 kilometres with the value of K13.2 billion and that a total of 512 kilometres had been completed and opened up to traffic.