Mogadishu, Somalia – Rehabilitation work has started and is advancing rapidly on the road connecting Janta–Kuundisho Junction to Beledweyne, the capital of Hiiraan region, marking a key milestone in Somalia’s broader effort to rebuild its national transport network.
The project falls under the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Programme (RIP), implemented by the Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction, and Housing, with financial backing from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other international development partners.
The ongoing rehabilitation covers part of the 22-kilometre Beledweyne–Kalabeyr section, one of several high-priority corridors aimed at reducing travel time, transport costs, and road accidents in central Somalia.
According to project estimates, travel along this corridor is expected to decrease from an hour to under forty minutes once upgrades are complete. The improvements will include roadbed strengthening, new culverts, stormwater drainage, and improved bridges to keep the route open during floods, which frequently isolate the city during the rainy season.
Local contractors and engineers are currently engaged in grading, compaction, and drainage works, with supervision from federal and regional authorities.
The project also incorporates environmental safeguards and community consultation measures outlined in its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment finalized earlier this year. These measures ensure minimal disruption to nearby settlements and farmlands along the Shabelle River.
Beledweyne serves as a vital trade and humanitarian hub in central Somalia, linking agricultural producers and livestock herders in Hiiraan with markets across Galmudug and Banadir. Reliable road access is expected to boost commerce, facilitate emergency response, and enhance mobility for thousands of residents who currently endure difficult travel conditions.
As the asphalt begins to take shape, the Janta–Kuundisho road represents more than a transport link—it signals a new phase of connectivity and recovery for Hiiraan, where smoother roads promise renewed economic and social lifelines for communities long cut off by poor infrastructure.