18 Jun 2014

Despite the absence of a detailed Palapye gateways improvement project document, there is progress in achieving the dream of the project, says senior assistant council secretary for Palapye Administration Authority, Mr Koti Molefi.

Briefing councilors during Palapye sub-council meeting, Mr Molefi said Palapye Development Plan proposed, as a matter of urgency, preparation of a detailed Palapye gateways improvement project.

The project, he said is a document that would detail the urban design concepts of Palapye gateways and implementation strategy. Gateways, he explained, are entry points into a town or city which announce arrival to the town and give a good and lasting impression.

He said Palapye Development Plan envisioned an urban area with developments of particular image and character befitting cosmopolitan town.

These developments, he added, would be achieved by application of urban design concepts and principles, meant to achieve beauty, safety and security, mobility, accessibility, convenience and all other aspects in town development.

In the absence of that document, Mr Molefi said there were projects that had already been carried out in these gateway corridors. He said the A1 road as part of the gateway corridor hads a portion with dual carriage ways and also fitted with street lights.

He further said development of a portion of Serowe road into a dual carriageway under bus rank project is part of the achievements under the gateway concept of Palapye.Furthermore, Mr Molefi said his office has recently revamped the Central Business District layout at Palapye Junction as one way of acceding to the principle of the gateway improvement.

The layout, he said advocates for buildings of higher architectural designs unlike the old layout.

Adding to that are Lotsane mixed use layout opposite Lotsane Secondary School where developments proposals such as mega shopping mall, hotels, offices and civic development will be undertaken.

In addition, he said the earmarked construction of access road from Martinsdrift road into Botswana International University of Science and Technology, is also part of the identified gateway corridor.

He said this access road will add value because it will have filling station and some other commercial establishments.Mr Molefi was responding to a question asked by Councilor of Morupule ward, Mr Jordan Makhura who wanted to know progress in commissioning construction of Palapye Gateways Improvement Projects as proposed by Palapye Development Plan.

Mr Makhura said such gateways will help bolster tourism in Palapye and may bring about creation of employment. ENDS