Mist Surrounds Marka- Bangula Railway Project

The project was supposed to kick start in February this year The project was supposed to kick start in February this year - internet pic

Government is not coming out clear as to when exactly the reconstruction and upgrade of a 72 kilometer, Marka- Bangula railway section will kick start.

Zodiak Online has established that government is yet to identify a contractor and a consulting engineer who will undertake the project.

The project was supposed to kick start in February this year, according to Ministry of Transport Spokesperson Andrew Mthiko.

"We are still in the procurement process; after which a contract will be issued to the successful contractor. As a ministry, we have done our part. We are waiting for approval from other relevant authorities, once this is done, works will kick start," said Mthiko.

"We are concerned as well with the delay. We agreed with our Mozambique counterparts to have our railway line connected with that of Mozambique by September this year.

"Our Mozambique counterparts have already done 10 kilometers of 45 kilometers; their plan is to cover the remaining part by September 30," said Mthiko.

According to the Ministry of Transport Spokesperson, works are expected to include upgrading of the railway line from 15.5 axle load to 20.5-ton axle load in order to conform to the standard of the line on the Mozambique side.

He further disclosed that the project is estimated to cost 70 million kwacha.

The works are part of the MK287 billion kwacha reconstruction and upgrade of the Limbe-Marka Railway line project.

According to Andrew Mthiko, "it is one of the 15 flagship projects that Government intends to raise financing for through a finance bond."

He added "the Implementation of the project in question, split into four phases, is expected to take 4 years depending on the available of financial resources.

People in Nsanje and Traditional leaders, have been taking government to task over its procrastination to kick start works on Bangula- Marka railway section.

Recently, Traditional Authority Chimombo, faulted government for the delay to kick start the project, describing it as "worrisome."

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