Local firms pocket 3.7tri/- from SGR project

DODOMA: LOCAL firms have supplied materials and services worth 3.7tri/- to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project construction so far, the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) Director General, Masanja Kadogosa said yesterday.

Speaking after the official launch of the SGR electric train service from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, Mr Kadogosa said during the implementation of the 722-kilometre SGR, a total of 30,146 direct employments were created with 358.4bn/- being pocketed by Tanzanians as salaries with additional 150,000 indirect jobs.

According to Mr Kadogosa, 49 per cent of the labour force involved local experts and 92 per cent of technicians were local. Commenting on the public response in travelling with electric train, the TRC boss said a total of 160,000 passengers have plied the Dar es Salaam-Morogoro route from June 14, this year.

He said the corporation has collected a total of 2.4bn/- as fare from passengers. He added that for Dar es Salaam-Dodoma route, which started pre-official services on July 24 to 28, this year, TRC managed to collect 700m/- from 28,000 passengers.

“A total of 28,000 passengers enjoyed our services from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and Dar es Salaam to Dodoma routes meaning that we attend to 7,000 customers daily” said Mr Kadogosa.

He added that the corporation is looking forward to continue with the implementation of the project in other lots namely Isaka-Mwanza, Makutupora – Tabora, Tabora – Isaka and Tabora – Kigoma.

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As for the Uvinza – Msongati route, Mr Kadogosa said they are in the procurement stage and when completed, they will take off the construction, the ultimate goal being to tap the business and economic opportunities in the neighbouring countries.

The buildings of the stations of Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Dodoma, he said, have showcased the key features of the respective regions namely Tanzanite, Uluguru Mountains and Dodoma peculiar stones.

He said they have well vested infrastructures in terms of electricity, fibre optic, information and communication technology.

According to Mr Kadogosa, the government through TRC has ordered 19 electric locomotives and that they are expected to arrive in the country soon.

He added that other 1,430 carriages have been ordered and that 250 are set to arrive in the country before the end of this year.