Govt optimistic on rail project
Despite the 72-kilometre Marka-Bangula railway project missing its April 26 2024 deadline, Minister of Transport Jacob Hara has expressed optimism that by the end of 2024, the railway line will have reached Nsanje from Villa Nova dar Fronteira.
Hara made the sentiments in an interview on the sidelines of an inspection tour of various public projects under his ministry in the Lower Shire on Friday.
The railway line project which is currently at less than 20 percent, has faced numerous challenges leading to the initial deadline of November 2023 being changed to April 2024.
But Hara said the government is keen, and in the process of resolving challenges that have been affecting the project.
He said: “The main problem on the rail has been changes in the flooded line. What happened was that we had initial designs on this rail which seemingly were good to go.
“But when our engineers reviewed the designs and the type of strength that we needed on this rail, it transpired that those designs were not good enough. We needed to bring our rail slightly higher to prevent the issues experienced on the main road. That has also resulted in the cost of the project to go much higher.”
Hara said when the issues pertaining to cost are highlighted, the challenges are compounded considering effects of the 44 percent devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha which are yet to be resolved on the project.
He said once the government gets clearances on the way forward, the contractor, China Railway 20th Bureau Group (CR20) will continue with the works.
But Hara expressed optimism that the issues will be resolved soon; hence, gave an assurance that the railway project will stretch to Nsanje by the end of this year.
However, officials from CR20 were not available for interviews after the inspection tour.
But Hara early this week said the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets of Authority (PPDA) had not approved a payment of K20 billion to CR20.
But PPDA public relations and communications manager Kate Kujaliwa said issues concerning the new contractor, project costs and the approval of payments should be directed to the Ministry of Transport.
