Plans are under way for the construction of an aerotropolis at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng, with the Provincial Roads and Transport Department looking for investing partners on the same. This is according to Jack van der Merwe, head of the aerotropolis steering committee.
The planned aerotropolis is an industrial and transportation hub and will be constructed next to the airport. The project is part of South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma’s strategic infrastructure projects under the presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission, which is overseeing US$ 77.25bn worth investments in three years, beginning in 2013.
The implementation plan for the aerotropolis is on a five year scale and is expected to be released to the public for comments on the same in six weeks time.
According to the Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi, the project on the aerotropolis was not just a Government project. The five year plan of implementation would show different components of the project and help show how the private sector can participate on the same.
The five year plan was submitted to the Ekurhuleni Moyoral Committee for approval and the same aerotropolis committee was working on a 25 year plan.
Up to 700 000 jobs will come to birth when construction work on the aerotropolis in Ekurhuleni begins to help boost the economy of the region. It will also help expand and increase freight and logistics in the surrounding area.
