Bernard Kipit

He said the development will only take place along the road reserve.

Locals however, claim this is not the direction they have received and that contractors have moved in and are surveying the area.

Locals gathered at Kirakira to air their grievances to the City Management over the lack of consultation on the proposed road development along Gavamani Road.

The roadblock begins in front of the Sabama market all the way to Mahuru.

The road was closed after an eviction notice had been served on a local woman living at the junction of Sabama-Pari intersection, to vacate her premises to allow for the road development to continue through.

There are also fears that the rest of the homes within the sphere of the road development may be removed, forcing locals to close the road until a proper explanation.

It was built at a cost of K37.2 million.

City Manager Bernard Kipit says the Magani Crescent road will improve the heavy flow of traffic during peak hours.

The road connects Waigani from Gerehu via the late Sir William Skate highway.

Kipit also hinted that a four-lane road will be built from Pitpit Street to the highway, making Morata an investment and development hub.

This project was made possible through a Bank South Pacific loan, while the name of the road will be changed at a later date.

Their plea to the member for Moresby North-East in a letter came a little too late. 

The scene on Wednesday at Manu Market included a truck removing the market tables abandoned by the vendors while police moved in to ensure the market is closed. 

Another truck was parked next to the huge pile of rubbish that had been left unattended to for days.

NCDC contractors were removing the rubbish while police were present to ensure market vendors stayed out.

The NCD City Manager Bernard Kipit says three out of six major road projects will be completed well before the end of August.

Ela Beach is the first major project to be completed on schedule, due to be opened to traffic by the end of July.

That will be followed by Stanley Esplanade in town and Independence Drive in Waigani, both due to be opened for traffic by the end of August.

The rehabilitation of the Freeway, Independence Drive and the Wards Road roundabouts will be completed by the end of October.

These are words by city manager Bernard Kipit when acknowledging a few issues faced in the nation’s capital.

Kipit was more specific on the traffic congestions in the city, which has been a concern to the traveling public.

He said over the last 5 – 6 years, new 4 lane roads have been built, new traffic lights installed.

But this developments also excite business and people, who tend to buy new vehicles, adding on the existing issue.

Kipit made the undertaking after he was officially sworn into office at City Hall today.

He took the oath of loyalty and the office of the City Manager before Senior Magistrate Tracey Ganaii in a small ceremony witnessed by the executive management and line managers of the Commission.

The City Manager said after the ceremony that the task will not be easy, managing over 700 employees from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Governor Powes Parkop announced this to honour the immense contribution Alu has made to the development of the capital city.

He said the contributions of Alu were worthy of renaming the former City Hall building after him. But like the Parliament House, the City Hall building could be renamed.

However, he said the Engineering Division building currently being erected will be renamed after Alu.

Meantime, Bernard Kipit is the new city manager.

(Outgoing NCD City Manager, Leslie Alu)

He made the remarks during the hand over take ceremony of the City Management yesterday (March 5).

It was a packed ceremony where NCDC staff came to witness the closing of a chapter in the management of City Hall and the start of a new one.

Governor Parkop commended Leslie Alu for his role in changing the face of NCD.

“Sadly because of his health, he had to make this hard decision. But it is the right decision,” said Parkop.

 Leslie Alu is closing an 11-year tenure, the longest ever by a City Manager.