The government has put in strategic plans to build a new railway line from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza linking central regions up to Burundi via Isaka, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said yesterday.

The premier made the statement at Reading in London, UK, when he talked to Tanzanians living there in a meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The inauguration of construction is expected to be sometimes in December this year, with the project expected to cost a total of $ 7 billion (Tsh. 11.4 trillion) and last for four years.

The premier who is currently on an official visit to the UK, used train transport in his going and returning at Reading town from London city saying that it was his first time to be at Reading town.

However, he promised that in the near future he would conduct such meetings and have some talks with Tanzanians who live in other towns, depending on what officials of the Tanzania High Commission in London would arrange for him.

Pinda was responding to some queries raised by Tanzanians who wanted to know what the government was doing to solve the various problems facing the transport sector in the country.

“I would like to assure you that, the government has decided to invest in a big project of the construction of a central railway line,” he said.

The railway line would start from Dar es Salaam to Isaka up to Burundi, and from Tabora to Kigoma and another extension from Tabora to Mwanza, as well as a small portion covering the distance from Kaliua to Mpanda, he explained.
The government has decided to construct the railway line at standard gauge, which would not affect transport by using the old railway line.

“This time we have decided to construct a new railway line as we are tired of making repairs all the time along the current line,” he said.
While construction would be going on, the old railway would continue providing services as usual.

Other questions which the premier was asked to clarify were the construction of a long stretch of road that links Lindi and Mtwara, building Kagwa hospital, Musoma airport, coordination of off loading at Dar es Salaam Port and the challenges met, dual citizenships and problems facing teachers in the country.

Back in April, the Minister for Transport Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe had announced that Tanzania was in talks with British banks to finance the construction of a standard gauge for the central railway line from Dar es Salaam to the western end of the country.

The government seeks to revamp the line so that it is in a position to efficiently haul goods and passengers, unlike at the moment whereby frequent derailing occurs due to dilapidated rails, worn out and kept up by often costly frequent repair.

Source: IPP Media

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