Construction of the Nkaya triangle and rehabilitation works in Balaka may delay due to misunderstandings that have arisen over compensation between the contractor, Mota Engil, and people of the district.
Central and East African Railway (Cear) says the development may frustrate its vision of positioning the triangle as its operational hub to cater for wagons operating between Blantyre and Lilongwe.
Cear Managing Director, Hendry Chimwaza, said Cear plans to shift some of its key operations currently being done through Liwonde Station to Nkaya as Liwonde is too small to accommodate all the wagons.
“We have decided to shift Liwonde Station to Nkaya because the place is ideal for more facilities apart from maintenance of the wagons and exchanging the locomotives. Nkaya will be a shorter route,” Chimwaza said.
When complete, the new station will accommodate 42 wagons and movement between Blantyre and Nkaya will be reduced to two hours.
“There will be Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) offices within the station and wagons requiring maintenance or refueling will all be attended to here,” he said.
According to Chimwaza Phase one of the project, which has three lines, started in November 2015 and was completed in June this year with an initial budget of K7.4 million.
After inspecting the project, the officials accompanied by engineers from Mota Engil engaged Senior Group Headman Nkaya whose subjects from Mbiya and Nsoma are resisting the project.
“The people want to be compensated as their friends were already compensated by the same company. They think they are being exploited,” Nkaya said in the presence of the officials.
But Chimwaza said Cear acquired the land after fulfilling all legal requirements arguing that people in the district encroached the land and ,therefore, do not require compensation.
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