Chinese firm which is constructing the standard gauge railway in Kenya said Tuesday it will begin laying of the rail track lanes for the Mombasa to Nairobi section in November.
China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBR) deputy General Manager Robert Ye told journalists in Mombasa that the construction of the first phase of the project is on course and ahead of the schedule.
Ye was speaking at port of Mombasa after receiving six more locomotive engines that arrived in the country. The six were offloaded from MV Long Song that docked at the port of Mombasa on Monday.
"Today we are witnessing the arrival of more engines for the construction of the railway. The laying of tracks lanes is expected to be complete in mid-2016 after more than 33 substations are constructed," Ye added.
He expressed confidence of beating the June 1, 2017 deadline to complete the multi-billion shilling project. The engines, weighing 130, 000 tones, were offloaded and transported to Mtito Andei and Emali under tight security.
Ye said a total of 12 locomotive engines have been delivered in the country for the construction of the railways that is aimed transforming the country's infrastructure.
He said two more powerful locomotive engines are expected by November to fast tract the completion of the railways. Ye said the company will also import 56 engines for both passage and cargo railways by 2017.
Sources said the supply contract, signed in early 2015, includes 13 locomotives. With a maximum speed of 100 km per hour, these locomotives will run at the railway connecting Mombasa and the capital Nairobi.
China Exim Bank will fund 90 percent of the first phase of the project that will cover about 472 kilometers from the port of Mombasa to Nairobi. The Kenyan government will provide the remainder of the funding.
The standard gauge railway links Kenya's port city of Mombasa to Uganda, Burundi and South Sudan. Recently President Uhuru Kenyatta said the construction of the SGR is 55 percent complete, adding that they have already signed a contract that would pave way for construction of Railway from Nairobi to Naivasha, about 90 kms northwest of Kenya.
The completion of the project will improve the country's infrastructure, provide employment, enhance business and reduce the cost of transporting goods and people.
CRBC has hired a wide range of professionals ranging from engineers and laboratory technicians to heavy equipment operators and human resource personnel.
The SGR project is one of Kenya's Vision 2030 flagship projects that will play an important role in improving the transport system as well as strengthening cooperation among East Africa Community (EAC) Member states and promote economic development of the region.
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