By Seleoe Nonyane
The Roads Directorate’s decision to put a moratorium on new business applications along major roads in Maseru has evoked mixed emotions among traders and members of the public.
This after the Roads Directorate announced last week that it had suspended applications for new businesses on major roads of Maseru with effect from January 1 2023, due to the ever-growing impediment to the smooth flow of traffic along such roads.
The suspension is expected to last 24 months or until the local government has completed the Land Use Plan called the Maseru 2050 Master Plan or when the Roads Directorate has completed a review of design guidelines.
The roads affected by the freeze are the A1 Highway, A2 Highway, A6 Road as well as the A7, A10, B20, B21, B31, B311 and B60 roads.
One of the reasons that necessitated this decision is that the current design guidelines prohibit accesses within a space of 500mm minimum and 600mm maximum, respectively, depending on the nature of the land available.
This was revealed by the public relations manager for the Roads Directorate Nozesolo Matela.
Matela said another contributing factor is that these businesses increase the level of traffic disruptions with their traffic trails into the businesses concerned.
“The high level of encroachment by businesses loading and off-loading in the road reserve disrupts traffic flows.
“Increased accidents due to reduced sight distances caused by encroachments.
“Increased volumes of storm water run-offs causing drainage blockages due to new accesses which cause rapid deterioration of the road pavement layers lead to developments of potholes”, she said.
Matela further stated that the Roads Directorate has also reached a decision that all existing filling stations along these roads be re-configured to serve uni-directional traffic, as a result eliminating all right turning movements; this means left-in, left-out.
She disclosed that the suspension is only taking place in Maseru and not in other districts due to the fact that the problem is more prevalent in Maseru compared to other districts, insisting that there is still good blood between the Roads Directorate and the other affected sectors.
One of the businessmen who is affected by the Roads Directorate’s decision is Molaoli Hlaoli of Tṧenola on the outskirts of Maseru. He told this publication that this decision came at a bad time for him and he feels ‘very unlucky’.
Hlaoli added that the announcement came at a time when he was preparing him to visit all the sectors that are involved in the processing of business permits, and was due to start the processes in February.
“It is very unfortunate that they decided to make this decision now when I had plans to start something that would change my life.
“I had intentions to start a fast food business selling fries, Russians and fat cakes, and I wanted to open my business along the A1 road because I have learned that it is one of the busiest roads in town and I was optimistic that my business would boom.
“However, it looks like my business may never see the light of day; also, my dream of owning a business will have to wait until further notice,” Hlaoli said.
He said he was so determined to make his business work that he even took cooking lessons in order for him to offer exceptional food for his customers.
Hlaoli said while he tries to figure out the next step for his business aspirations, he will continue looking for a job; this is something he has been doing for the past two years, with little luck.
On the other hand, one of the residents of Tiisetso Leballo said that he feels like the decision is a good one although it comes a little too late because the damage is already done.
Leballo added that a better decision would have been for these businesses to be closed down altogether and relocated to places where they can operate without encroaching on the roads and impeding the flow of traffic.
