The second phase of the construction of the standard gauge railway (SGR) line is on the verge of starting. The project intends to link the capital of Dodoma and the commercial city of Dar es Salaam.

Prof Makame Mbarawa, speaking during the Eighth East and Central Africa Roads and Rail Infrastructure Summit opening in Dar es Salaam, the Minister for Works, Transport and Communications did confirm the construction will commence next month.

The standard gauge railway stretches from Morogoro to Dodoma, a distance of 336 km in phase 2. Tanzania has also planned to introduce a fast and modern train after the project is complete. 160kph will be the top speed of the train. On the other side, the freight train will have a top speed of 120kph.

Prof Mbarawa said, “We want this railway line link Tanzania with other regional, landlocked states including Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, Zambia and Uganda through quick and timely access from Tanzania’s Indian Ocean ports,”.

The SGR project is under the execution of Yapi Merkez Insaat Ve Sanayi, a Turkish construction together with Mota-Engil, Engenharie and Construcao Africa, SA of Portugal.

Dr. Magufuli had requested the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma to help Tanzania in lobbying for loans from the BRICS-run New Development Bank. He also requested Dr. Jim Yong Kim who is the World Bank President to help in financing the project. Both President Zuma and Mr. Jim Yong visited Tanzania this year.

From Dar es Salaam to the shores of Lake Victoria, stretching 1,057km, the construction is on the same line with the Central Railway (CR) Line built. The Germans did construct the CR in 1905 from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma. Also, the British colonial government did take over from Tabora to Mwanza a stretch of 427km.

Posted on : 23 Apr,2024