Tanzania now says that the construction of the multi-billion dollar standard gauge railway line is set to begin in earnest following plans to announce the contractor of the project.
Official from the Ministry of Works say they are currently in the final stages to ensure that they get the best contractor out of the several who had applied the tender.
The contractor will be expected to deliver US$7.6 billion standard gauge railway that is expected to run from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma and Mwanza.
This comes just weeks after Tanzania signed a $7.6 billion (about Sh16 trillion) loan agreement with the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of China for upgrading the railway line.
According to the Transport permanent secretary Leonard Chamuriho they have already received the best contractors and they are weighing on who should carry the project.
“The project is excepted to change the face of the transport industry and in the nest few days we expect to announce the besT contractor who we will get into terms with” he added
He added that as soon as they announce the winner of the tender they will ensure that the projects kicks off and to be carried on within the set time frame.
The official added that they have already the finance which had been their longest nightmare and now they are only looking forward to see the project kick off.
President John Magufuli is on record as having been quoted saying that the construction will commence within the current financial year (2016/2017), with the government setting aside Sh1 trillion in the current financial year as initial cost of the project.
This is one of the biggest project that is expected to be carried out by the Tanzanian government under president Magufuli and its expected to change the phase of the transport industry and above all help in improving trade.
Transport in Africa is seen as a major economic catalyst in a continent that is experiencing a major economic growth.
