ADDIS ABABA–Addis Ababa’s ongoing corridor development is driving a powerful synergy between the public and private sectors, fueling economic growth, boosting development, and enhancing the sustainability of livelihoods, according to the Mayor.
During a site visit to three key corridor development projects, Mayor Adanech Abiebie, accompanied by senior government officials, updated journalists on the progress of the initiative. She highlighted that the corridor development is playing a pivotal role in fostering a 24-hour working culture in the city, improving business efficiency, and contributing to safer, more peaceful nights, with expanded public and private transport services.
The Mayor stated that the project’s main objectives are to improve connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, enhance cleanliness, and create a more conducive environment for economic activities. She added that it will promote market growth, facilitate easier movement of people, and ultimately make the city more competitive, aligning it with global standards.
As the first phase of the corridor development nears completion, business activity in the affected areas is flourishing, and the city is becoming increasingly attractive to investors. The project is also focused on transforming Addis Ababa into a vibrant diplomatic and investment hub, with key improvements such as underground construction and the renovation of historical sites.
Among the key renovations are the historic monuments in Piassa and Arat Kilo, including the Emperor Menelik II statue, Abune Petros statue, Cinema Empire, Cinema Ethiopia, and the Hager Fikir Theatre. These landmarks are being modernized with stone cladding while preserving their original identities, ensuring their legacy for future generations.
Mayor Adanech added that once the corridor development is completed, it will enhance the beauty of the area, boost residents’ daily income, and transform the lives of those in surrounding communities. Notable projects, such as the Adwa Memorial Museum, are also part of this large-scale transformation.
In areas like Arat Kilo and Piassa, private businesses are thriving in a peaceful environment, contributing to local economic growth.
The first phase of the corridor development includes car parking spaces, business shops, rest areas, and terminals for buses, taxis, and tourists, along with plazas and major road junctions connecting key areas of the city. This phase covers routes from 4 Kilo to Churchill Road and from 6 Kilo to ItegueTaitu Hotel, with large parking lots and terminals for buses, taxis, and tourists.
Phase two of the development is already underway, covering a larger area of the city and set to bring further improvements to Addis Ababa’s infrastructure and economy, according to Mayor Adanech.
BY MISGANAW ASNAKE
The Ethiopian Herald December 15/2014
