Ababa Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is now serving as the seat of the Africa Union, the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the head quarter of international organizations and diplomatic communities. Although it is a city that holds this role, Addis Ababa has not been modernized and is not able to be equivalent to its sister cities due to various reasons.
In order to modernize the city and make it convenient for its residents, the city administration is designing and working on a corridor development project. The provision of adequate money and land compensation is being prepared and paid for those who are locally displaced for city reconstruction and corridor development activities. Now, the task is ongoing by the day and night effort of high caliber professionals.
The project is part and parcel of making Addis Ababa a beautiful flower, like its name suggests. With such a vision, the corridor and reconstruction development works have been carried out as per the pledge of the incumbent government to Addis residents during its election campaign. The project includes massive and human-oriented development projects. Among the development works that have been done so far, for instance, are the construction of the municipal office, Masqal Square, Friendship and Unity Park, the Science Museum, the Abrihot Library, Pushkin Square, Gotera Akaki Bole Road, and so on.
Apart from changing the shabby looks of the city, the project is contributing to the social and economic development of residents. The corridor development in general is making Addis Ababa a capital convenient for its residents, and a destination for tourists upon completion of the next phase of its development.
In the first round, a 40-kilometer corridor is being undertaken at the following lines: The first line starts from Adwa Victory Memorial Square and crosses via Arat Kilo-Kebena-Megenagna. The second passes through Arat Kilo-Bole Airport-Bole Bridge-Megenagna. The third line starts from the New Africa Convention Center and connects with the CMC. The fourth line connects Mexico-Africa Union-Sarbet-Wolo Sefer. It is often said that the development of the corridor is connecting the dots of renovating areas apart from creating comfortable areas for residents who lived in rubbish parts of the city and were prone to diseases.
Although there is a limitation in informing society about the importance of the development in a proper way, the project has given the people who were displaced from their villages to create a better living environment.
According to various reports; there is no change in the area designation of the capital except to create a convenient common use for all the communities in the development of the corridor. In the corridor development work, heritage and infrastructure will be preserved and restored. This makes it competitive with international cities. It is said that heritage sites such as Cinema Ethiopia, Hager Fiker, Showa Hotel, City Convention, Habte Giorgis Dingde’s house, and the old town hall and post office will continue to be renovated.
This has thwarted the false narrative by some “activists” from time to time. There is a corridor development monitoring task force in sub-cities where there are development initiatives, and there is an office that responds to people’s grievances at all five corridor development initiatives at the city administration level.
In order to maintain the social ties of the residents, there is a possibility of providing subsidized communal housing, which is a convenient opportunity to continue their togetherness. This will allow them to continue social interaction in the community and give them a sense of ownership on the overall development.
In view of the size of the corridor development, it is working hard to complete the road and green development work in Piazza, Arat Kilo, and Bole lines by the end of May. According to the data of the Addis Ababa City Administration Fire and Emergency Risk Management Commission; the corridor development of the capital is beyond the development of the city and can save the lives of citizens who are vulnerable to fire and emergencies. The ongoing road corridor development has made a significant contribution to preventing the risks associated with housing density, narrowness of roads, overlapping of power lines, and blockage of drainage pipes.
The development of the corridor will allow houses to be built according to the plan, roads to be widened, modern electricity lines to be laid, and drainage pipes to be built with quality. It is also believed to be a permanent solution that saved many areas from fires, floods, traffic jams, and other disasters.
The corridor development project will change the former image of Addis Ababa into a great and globally competitive city, apart from making it comfortable for its residents. For the success of the project, every organization should discharge its responsibility.
BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2024
