M01 TOLLED ROAD REHABILITATION TAKES SHAPE, AS FUEL LEVY USED TO SUPPLEMENT TOLL FEES

The rehabilitation of the M01 tolled road has registered good progress, with 46 percent road works completed along Masasa to Kachipeya road section.

The contractor has resealed potholes, reconditioned shoulders and asphalt resealing of 4.4km stretch out of the 9.56km target.

We are optimistic at this pace, that should all things being equal, the contractors will catch up with lost time and finish the works within the scheduled time frame, reiterated Roads Authority Acting Chief Maintenance Engineer, Derrick Manda.

This was revealed on 11 November 2026, during the Tolled Road Media Tour Update organized by the Roads Fund Administration in conjunction with the Roads Authority.

The works have already changed the face of Lizulu Trading Centre, with completed bus bays and drainage systems allowing free flow of traffic and parking area.

“We are happy with the development, we noted that the road works are of high standard and with enlarged carriageway which has significantly improved traffic flow at the trading centre, said Elisa Kagulo a shop owner at Lizulu Trading Centre.

Kagulo further requested the contractor to improve road safety at Lizulu by providing zebra crossing and rumble surfaces for speed control to avoid road accidents.

In his briefing, the RFA Toll Operations Manager, Dalitso Kadzamira indicated that the M01 tolled road rehabilitation is being financed partly using toll fees and fuel levy. “The total rehabilitation cost is K113billion, of which the big percent is from fuel levy.”

Kadzamira reported that, during the third quarter, the tollgates had raked in K2.1billion compared to K1.2billion registered during the same period last year.

On expenditure the RFA had disbursed a total of K32.7billion in advance payments and completed road works.

The toll update is part of RFA promotion of transparency and accountability of toll fee collection and utilization, where the RFA commits to periodically update the public on toll collection and utilization of toll fees on a quarterly basis.

Currently the RFA has only two tollgates along the M01 road, the tollgates have been operational for a period of six years.

The RFA is planning to increase the number of new tollgates to six with four tollgates to be constructed during this financial year 2026/27.

“The Roads Authority has finanlised the procurement processes for the for upcoming tollgates which will be constructed within the next eight months from now” reiterated Kadzamira.

The four tollgates are to be constructed along the M1 at Khamanga in Dowa after Mponela, Gwayi in Kasungu after Nkhamenya, Naluva in Salima along the Lilongwe Salima road and Chileka along Lilongwe Mchinji road.