During President Paul Kagame’s last week visit to Tanzania, he agreed with President John Magufuli to construct a 400-kilometer standard gauge railway (SGR) line from Isaka to Kigali.
After talks between both Heads of States, Magufuli told media that the construction of the railway line will be jointly financed by the two countries.
While he was speaking to national broadcaster, RBA yesterday, the Manager of Planning and Research Division at Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), Fabrice Barisanga said that the 2014 action plan revealed that the whole railway project from Dar es Salaam to Kigali will be 1464 kilometers.
He said that currently, they are looking at 494 kilometer Isaka-Kigali phase where Rwanda has 150kiliometers to construct.
“Action plan shows us that the whole project will take us $2.5 billion. It is a big project that requires enough financial means,” he said.
“It is in line with President Kagame’s visit in Tanzania where he and Tanzanian president agreed to fast-track the project. For us Technicians, we are ready to start implementation based on Head of States’ agreements,” he explained.
The project will pass through Eastern Province’s Districts of Kirehe-Ngoma-Bugera to Kicukiro District in Kigali, Masaka Sector.
Study shows that properties for 2450 people will be affected by the project.
Speaking to IGIHE, the State Minister of Transportation in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye said that both countries should agree on ways to find the financing sources.
“As they have requested us, in two weeks, we will have agreed on the way to go,” he said.
Construction works for Tanzanian part have started and works are being implemented in two phases. The first phase is Dar es Salaam-Morogoro with 330 kilometers and Morogoro- Makutupora with 426 kilometers.
The railway is expected to ease transportation between Rwanda and Tanzania. Currently, 70% of Rwanda’s importations pass through Tanzania.
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