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Tanzania releases $3.1 billion railway in drive to increase facilities

Tanzania on Thursday launched a 541km contemporary standard gauge train running between its administrative and industrial capitals, built by a Turkish company as part of a federal government drive to enhance transportation facilities

African federal governments have actually been racing to build infrastructure. like roadways, trains and bridges, though critics have actually questioned some of the loans drawn from nations like China to fund the drive stating they are saddling future generations with financial obligation.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan flagged off the electric train services at a ceremony in the business capital Dar es Salaam, before boarding a train for a four-hour trip to the administrative capital, Dodoma.

The $3.1 billion line was built by Turkish firm Yapi Merkezi. The two areas released on Thursday become part of a. prepared 2,561-km rail network which is expected to boost. domestic and local trade when finished.

Tanzania signed a $1.46 billion loan contract with Requirement. Chartered Bank Tanzania in 2020 to partially money the area of. stretch introduced on Thursday.

We are continuing to build the train up to Kigoma. till we connect with the neighbouring countries so that we can. enhance our services, Hassan informed cheering citizens in one. of the train stations in the outskirts of Dar es Salaam.

Hassan's government is also building a rail network towards. the northern Indian Ocean port city of Mwanza and preparing to. begin building and construction of another line to Kigoma in the west to. connect with Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo.

This railway is going to liberate our companies, she stated. at a drop in the eastern Tanzanian city of Morogoro.

Once the Burundi link is functional, the 2 countries expect. to transfer three million tons of minerals yearly consisting of. nickel to Dar es Salaam's port, according to the Tanzanian. financing ministry.

(source: Reuters)