Eight bidders vie for Dar commuter train services project

BY DICKSON NG`HILY

17th May 2013

Transport minister, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe

Eight bidders have shown interest in investing in Dar es Salaam commuter train services and would submit their proposals later this month, Parliament was informed here yesterday
Transport minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe said that the move is aimed at ensuring the city provides quality services to the public.

“We want to improve service delivery. The investor will use the existing rail infrastructure with Diesel Multiple Unity (DMUs),” he said.

Mwakyembe told the House when presenting his ministry’s budget estimates that Reli Assets Holding Company (Rahaco) has not carried out a feasibility study to expand the city commuter train services to places such as Luguruni, Bunju, Chamazi and Pugu.
He said his ministry considers linking Gongo la Mboto and the city centre to help people living along the central railway line.

“The launch of commuter train services has helped to reduce traffic jams in Dar es Salaam. By ferrying 14,000 passengers daily we have withdrawn 467 commuter buses with the capacity of carrying 30 passengers each,” Mwakyembe explained.

On the performance of Dar es Salaam port, the minister said that for fiscal year 2012/13, the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) planned to handle 12.65 million tons of cargo but managed to reach 9.1 million tons in the past nine months, equivalent to 72 percent of the target.

In the coming financial year, the minister TPA plans to handle 13.84 million tons.

“Tanzania also plans to sign Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) with various countries so as to meet requirements of the free market. Such agreements will involve the governments of South Sudan, Australia, Italy, Syria and Mauritania,” Dr Mwakyembe revealed.

The Transport ministry requested Parliament to approve 491.1bn/- for the financial year 2013/2014. Of the amount, 100.6bn/- would be used for recurrent expenditure and 390.52bn/- will be for development expenditure.

Presenting the views of the opposition camp, Pauline Gekuli (Special Seat MP - Chadema), on behalf of the spokesperson for the ministry, urged government to increase funds to enable it attain its targets.

“The opposition camp is shocked that the government has allocated only 113.2bn/- for purchasing, repairing of train and wagons, paying debts as well as maintaining railways. The money isn’t enough if we want to improve the railway sub sector,” she said.

“Mind you, the government plans to handle at least 800,000 tons and 3 million tons by 2014 and 2015 respectively. It’s a day dream to reach the target with such limited funds.”

The vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure Prof Juma Kapuya blamed the government for delaying the approved fund, saying “the committee is not satisfied with the disbursement of funds.”

“We want the government to ensure it gives the ministry the required money as approved by the House to enable the ministry implement its plans,” he said. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN