The 11km long and 50m wide Qaliti-TuluDimtu-Road nears completion on the outskirts of the capital. The City Administration has taken up the mantle for its construction after major financier Chinese Exim Bank fell short. Several construction projects have either been derailed or suspended due to the surge in international prices during the global Covid-19 pandemic. While inflation is cited for most construction freezes by Chinese financiers, some point to the continent-wide de-escalation of the One Belt One Road project. The recent one-year waiver on payback periods of Chinese loans is a much-needed respite for the fund-strapped treasury.