Nairobi, Sept. 6 -- Design changes on the Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit toll road have triggered emergency land purchases by the State, signalling new variations in the cost of the Sh183.7 billion project.

Insiders told the Business Daily that multiple interchanges have been added to the 233-kilometre road's design, prompting the State to make emergency land purchases to accommodate the bridges and underpasses that were not included in the initial project plan.

"The contractors have have recommended variations in the initial design and introduced interchanges along the route. We have had to make emergency land purchases to cover for these new components which were not envisaged in the initial design," a Transport ministry official said.

The...