By Akanimo Sampson
The sum of $160.5 million has been approved by the government of Tanzania as a starting budget for the construction of the 341km Isaka-Mwanza Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line.While approving the fund at the Dar es Salaam State House, President Samia Suluhu Hassan urged Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) Managing Director, Masanja Kadogosa to properly supervise the implementation of the ongoing railway projects in the country.
He also asked the railway corporation to get ready to begin the construction of the SGR section from Makutopora-Tabora, Tabora- Isaka- Kaliua- Mpanda and Kalema.
According to the President Hassan, “the government is fully committed to ensure timely construction of the Central Railway line that will connect the Port of Dar es Salam with Lake and Western Zone regions; as well as neighbouring countries of Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).”
She also expressed her satisfaction at the Corporation’s performance of implementing the ongoing railway projects. At the same time she commended TRC’s management and staff for a good job so far.
The TRC chief thanked the president for approving the funds for the Isaka-Mwanza SGR line. He said the corporation has recorded good progress with regards to the SGR project with two of the sections; from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro, and Morogoro-Makutopora already constructed.
Kadogosa disclosed that, as of last month, construction of the 300km from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro was 91% complete, whereas the 422km section from Morogoro to Makutopora was 60.02% complete.According to him, the first phase of the SGR line from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro is set to start operations by the end of August this year.
