Causes .and Effects of Poor Inter Sectoral Linkage in Infrastructure Development Works: The Case of Road and Light Rail Construction Projects in Addis Ababa
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2014-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Sectoral linkage in urban infrastructure development and service provi sion plays an impOitant
role in determining the urban econom ic and phys ical development and has indispensible role in
the livel ihood of urban dwellers, efficiency and effect iveness of service providers and
development of the nation at large. However, Ethiopian cities/town administrations and policy
makers pay meager attention to the issue in their strategy and urban development policy partly
due to the lack of sufficient research works that clearly show the importance of coordination in
urban infrastructure development works and the poss ible effects of uncoordinated activities to
theĀ· respective institutions, urban dwellers and the co untry at large.
This research work looked in to the process of urban in frastructure development works to
iden tify the dimensions and root causes for the absence of inter sectoral integration between
urban service providers and invest igate the possible economic, social, and env ironmental effects
of the problem with a particular emphasis on se lected light rail and road development projects in
Addis Ababa.
To achieve the above objective, the study used both qualitative and quantitative methodology
and relevant data for the study were gathered from primary as well as secondary sources through
questionnaires, interv iews, field observation and document reviews. The collected is analyzed
using exploratory, descriptive as well as narrative methodological approach.
The research found out that the institutional and administrative structure and institutions level of
accountabi lity coupl ed with the vario us sources of budget as factors contributing to the poor inter
sectoral integration. Besides, lack of communication during design pre parations and common
standards and guide lines to all service providers is also identified as one of the root causes.
It was also rea lized that, the reactive nature of the legal procedures and lack of clearly stated
rules and regulations which suggest coord ination among service providers along with weak
enforcement has greatly contrib uted to the problem under review.
Moreover, findings also confirmed that there is still loose communication during implementation
due to poor ut il ity database, lack of institut ions capac ity, interest and commitment, absence of
responsib le body to do the job and lack of long term pl an.
The study has also identified the major economic, social and environmental effects of poor
sectoral coord ination on local res idents, service providers and the nation at large. The economic
effects on service providers are characterized by property damages, high cost of compensation,
cost of carrying out repairs and re locations, cost for any temporary service arrangements
necessary, and the possible loss of "product" and revenue reduction during service interruptions.
The identified effects on utility customers include, freq uent service interruptions, business may
be stopped and data lost, and for industri al properties production may be hal ted and machinery
damaged, low productivity, decrease in number of customers, low profit etc. among the social
effects of the problem, lost time, business opportunities and additional fuel consumption,
spoil ing of food because of refrigeration failure, injuries and traffic accidents, traffic congestion,
safety hazards and lack of transportation access were identified by the study. As per the
environmental effects of the problem, contam ination of water supply, sewage backing up,
flooding and storm water inundation, noise pollution, air pollution, and dust induced lung
diseases are identifi ed by the study.
Description
Keywords
Sectoral Linkage, in Infrastructure Development Works