KOTA KINABALU- The Federal Government has allocated some RM 17 billion to pave all roads within 30 km radius of towns in Sabah by the year 2015.

Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohaamed  said the huge allocation  was in line with the Government's vision and commitment to boost the State's infrastructure development.

"We are aware that there are still many roads which have not been upgraded pr paved in Sabah and there are also places in the rural areas which have no roads at all.

"We hope to complete the project by  2015 or at the latest by 2017," he told reporters after a briefing on the State?s infrastructure development here.

Mohd Zin said Sabah had 15,756km of roads of which 5,686 are paved roads and 9,635 km gravel roads. The rest are laterite roads.

He said the Federal Government was also looking into the State Government's application to pave a 150km road connecting Sapulut in Pensiangan and Kalabakan in Tawau at an estimated cost of RM 100 million

Mohd Zin also also asked the  state's Public Works Department to list down priority road projects to facilitate the channeling of funds.

On infrastructure   development in Pensiangan, a district in the state's interior, he said the Federal Government would continue to provide basic amenities there, particulary roads, for the benefit of the people. Mohd Zin also said that he would be visiting the Pensiangan parliamentary constituency Sunday to see himself the situation in the area