Gakenke District residents are upbeat after rehabilitation works started on two major roads in the area said were in a dilapidated state. 

Fifty-three kilometres road, network which will built in two phases link Gicuba-Janja in Cyabingo Sector, Janja-Vunga in Mugunga Sector and Shyira Sector in Nyabihu District.

The rehabilitation is being financed by the Rwanda Transport Development Agency.

The residents believe that the road works will help them improve their welfare.

Previously they found it difficult to take their produce to the market.

"We have been in isolation due to poor roads; we have usually found it hard to take our produce to the market.

Now that the roads are going to be renovated, we are hopeful that our lives will improve significantly,” said Petronille Nsengimana, a Cyabingo Sector resident.

Celestin Nkundabazungu a motorist operating in the area said the poor roads affected their transport business.

"We have been affected by poor roads, it has always been difficult for us to take passengers to various destinations and we would also fail to operate whenever it rained,” said Nkundabazungu.

Engineer Adolphe Murengerantwali said that the reconstruction of the first phase of 27kilometres Gicuba- Janja road started last week, expected to be completed by the end of September.

He said the amount to be given to the contractor is yet to be agreed on.

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