Dodoma SGR station set for commercial transformation

DODOMA’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) station is being positioned as a major urban and commercial gateway, with plans to integrate rail services with public transport and unlock new investment opportunities around the station.

The vision emerged from a recent SymbioCity Workshop at the station, bringing together government institutions, development partners and technical experts to explore how the facility can be integrated into Dodoma’s expanding urban landscape.

Team Leader and International Director at Sweco International, Mr Alex Cochrane said yesterday that planners were looking beyond the traditional role of railway stations to create a multi-modal hub connecting rail passengers with buses, bajajis, taxis, pedestrians and businesses.

“What if a railway station could do more than receive trains? What if it could become a gateway to the capital, linking buses, bajajis, taxis, pedestrians and new businesses in one seamless urban space?” Mr Cochrane said.

The workshop forms part of the Dodoma SGR Project Preparation Facility and Special Purpose Vehicle Pilot, led by Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC), financed by Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), with technical support from Sweco.

Mr Cochrane said proposals include a seamless interchange connecting SGR services with commuter buses, taxis, bajajis, bodabodas and regional buses, alongside emobility facilities, parking and potential integrated ticketing.

Sweco’s Local Coordinator and Urban Development Specialist, Dr Jerome Kessy, said the station’s commercial potential would depend on its integration with the wider city.

“The station cannot be planned in isolation from the city,” he said, adding that planning must consider accessibility, safety, passenger movements and opportunities for surrounding economic activity.

The approximately 300,000-square-metre station area, subject to confirmation, could accommodate commercial, residential, institutional, hospitality and office developments.

Mr Kessy said the objective was to create a mixed-use destination where people could work, conduct business and access services rather than simply pass through.

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Planning also incorporates green infrastructure, climate resilience, drainage, tree planting, universal accessibility and electric-vehicle charging.

The initiative is being coordinated with the World Banksupported Dodoma Integrated and Sustainable Transport Project and TACTIC, as well as road, public transport and future commuter railway investments.