The Minister of Transport of Tanzania has revealed Tanzania’s Northern Railway Line Upgrade plans. This comes in a bid to reduce the traffic congestion that is usually brought from the cargo trucks that travel through Arusha City from Tanga Port.
Speaking to the country’s journalists on Wednesday, January 8, the Minister of Transport, Prof Makame Mbarawa, revealed that this move is a part of the broader efforts that will foresee the efforts to improve infrastructure and enhance Tanga Port efficiency. This modernization will be crucial for the port which has already undergone major development works.
Also read: Tanzania Plans for $5.6 Billion Mtwara-Mbamba Bay Railway Project
Additionally, Professor Mbarawa, explained that the Northern railway runs all the way from Dar es Salaam to Arusha. Furthermore, this railway section has a branch that runs from Korogwe to Tanga. The minister also mentioned that the Northern railway is a key priority for the Tanzanian government.
Reason for Tanzania’s Northern Railway Line Upgrade
“Once you upgrade a port, it is also important to upgrade the infrastructure that supports it,” he stated.
“We will be giving top priority to the Northern railway and will modernize it in order to ensure Port of Tanga operates at its maximum efficiency,” he added.
Furthermore, the minister also revealed that Tanzania’s government had previously earmarked Sh420 billion to modernize Tanga Port. This port is currently deemed to surpass Mtwara Port in overall operational capacity.
Othe than the railway improvements, the Tanzanian government has plans of establishing modern inland container depots (ICDs). These will be used for the storage of goods which are supposed to be transported to other countries.
This railway modernization project is expected to cut the number of cargo trucks on the roads. These cargo trucks have risen in numbers from 60 up to 600. This has led to congestion and also occurrence of unnecessary accidents.
