SGR progress delights CCM chairpersons

THE ruling party CCM’s chairpersons have expressed satisfaction with the construction pace of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project.

A team of 32 party chairpersons from all regions in Mainland and Zanzibar and several Central Committee members were delighted with the project pace when they toured Dar es Salaam- Dodoma SGR section on Monday.

Kigoma Regional Chairperson, Jamary Tamimu called on the community to protect the railway infrastructure.

He said upon completion of the project, the SGR will be an exemplary railway in East Africa region which will contribute more to the country’s economy.

“Our SGR will open new economic opportunities within and in neighboring countries and therefore increase revenues to the people and the nation in general,” said Mr Tamimu.

Martha Mlata, Singida Region CCM Chairperson commended the government for successful implementation of the project.

Mwaka Yamrisho, CCM Unguja South Regional Chairperson said that, party members should conduct regular routines to inspect development projects.

She said they are satisfied with the progress of the project attained so far and people should be made aware of strategic projects’ pace.

Minister for Works and Transport, Prof Makame Mbarawa said the government will later next year sign a construction agreement with Burundi to extend the railway network.

Prof Mbarawa said before the railway was designed for a speed of 120kms per hour but they received views from stakeholders to increase the speed, therefore they changed it to160 kms per hour.

“Stakeholders were concerned why are were building a railway system that will use diesel instead of electricity and after consulting experts we came up with this model project which has also attracted the attention of other countries,” Prof Mbarawa said.

“We are now going to link Tanzania with other countries such as Burundi, Congo and Rwanda,”.

“I would like to assure Tanzanians that all projects are implemented as planned, there is no project that has been stalled,” he said

On his part, the Tanzania Railway Cooperation (TRC) Director General, Mr Masanja Kadogosa said the tour was part of the implementation of CCM election manifesto.

He however dismissed online posts mocking the new arrival passengers’ wagons claiming that they are “used”.

Kadogosa said the passenger wagons which arrived a few days ago are new and all the procurement procedures were observed.

Kadogosa clarified that the total cost of the 59 passenger wagons is $55.6 million, adding that out of the 59 wagons, 14 have already arrived in the country.