THE government, through the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) has outlined plans to construct modern railway infrastructure at three key ports in the country to improve cargo transportation efficiency and reduce unnecessary congestion.

The initiative aims to streamline the transportation of goods, providing better connectivity between the ports and inland destinations.

According to the Minister for Transport, Prof. Makame Mbarawa, the new railway infrastructure will be developed at the ports of Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and Tanga.

Prof. Mbarawa shared the details over the weekend during a visit at  Tanga port. 

He emphasised that without an effective railway system, any port would face significant congestion, particularly during the cargo loading and unloading processes. 

He further assured that the government is committed to building modern railway lines to alleviate this congestion and ensure that the ports operate with maximum efficiency.

“A port without railway access faces much greater congestion when it comes to loading goods. I will ensure that modern railway infrastructure is built to reduce this congestion and guarantee that these ports operate efficiently,” Mbarawa stated.

He highlighted that a well-functioning port requires both road and rail infrastructure. However, rail transportation is much more efficient compared to other forms of transport. 

The minister reassured that efforts to build modern rail networks at Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Tanga ports will significantly improve port operations and reduce the logistical bottlenecks currently being experienced.

“Although the infrastructure here in Tanga is present, it has challenges. I will ensure that the rail network effectively connects with the ports and collaborates with other ports, so that the efficiency in loading and unloading cargo is significantly improved,” he said.

In addition to rail infrastructure improvements, Mbarawa revealed that the government plans further upgrades at Tanga port, with the goal of increasing its annual revenue from the current 100 billion Tanzanian shillings to 400 billion shillings.

“The government will also construct a new dock extending 350 meters, bringing the total length of the dock to 750 meters, along with 400 meters of prior upgrades,” Mbarawa noted.