Government has said it plans to rehabilitate the Limbe-Makhanga rail line this year despite it being in disuse for over a decade.
In response to a questionnaire Tuesday, Ministry of Transport and Public Works spokesperson James Chakwera said the rehabilitation works would commence this year and would last two years.
He also conceded that the project has taken long to start because the government has been consulting its financiers.
“The government also plans to conduct a study under the Malawi Flood Emergency Project for a better build back concept so that appropriate interventions are effected that should ensure that the line withstands floods elements in future,” Chakwera said.
He could not disclose the cost of rehabilitating the line, but he expressed optimism that train operations covering Limbe, Luchenza and Sandama would commence soon after the completion of the repair works.
Malawi has a single 797 kilometre rail line that runs from the Zambia boarder in Mchinji via Lilongwe and Blantyre to Makhanga in Nsanje.
Part of the line from Limbe to Mchinji is under the Central East African Railways which is making huge infrastructure investments in rehabilitation.
On the contrary, the other half from Limbe to Makhanga is under government supervision and little is being done to resuscitate its operations.
Leave a Reply