East Africa ministers' panel happy with standard gauge railway progress

The Director General of the Rwanda Transport Development Agency Guy Kalisa (left), South Sudan Government deputy Minister for Transport, Roads and Bridges Simon Mijok Mijak (second right, front) and Kenya's acting Cabinet Secretary for Transport James Macharia, walk along a completed section of the SGR project at Mtito Andei during an inspection of the on going work May 02, 2015. The inspection of the SGR started at the port of Mombasa and ended at Kathekani in Mtito Andei. [PHOTO/GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Officials of the four countries undertaking the standard gauge railway (SGR) are satisfied with progress on the first 472km being built from the Port of Mombasa to Nairobi.

The Joint Ministerial Committee appointed by Heads of State from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan have applauded the progress.

Speaking during a site visit on Friday, chair of the Joint Ministerial Committee of the Northern Corridor Integrated Project, John Byabagambi, Uganda's minister for Transport said:

"What started as a dream is now coming to fruition. The work done so far is fantastic and all indications point to a class one SGR," Byabagambi said.

Kenya Railways Managing Director Athanus Maina said that the 2.1km Tsavo Super Bridge will act as a wildlife corridor to allow free flow of wildlife.

"It passes over the Tsavo River and crosses the existing metre gauge railway line.

Its total length is 1987.69m, including 32m concrete structures that use 32m beams to cross over its base, and a pile and excavated foundation," he said.