THE government is set to upgrade the northern zone railway system to ease the heavy congestion caused by cargo trucks plying the Arusha-Tanga highway and often taking goods to neighbouring countries.

Prof. Makame Mbarawa, the Transportation minister, unveiled this intention at an airport press briefing here yesterday focused on the 73rd African Airports Council (ACI) meeting, set for April 24 to 30 in the safari capital.

The congestion has become a significant inconvenience for road users, he said, noting that expected improvements include building inland container depots (ICDs) to store goods transported by rail to various East African Community (EAC) countries.

This would reduce reliance on cargo trucks and ease road congestion, he said, pointing at substantial strides in the transport sector, with the allocation of 420bn/- for upgrading facilities at the port of Tanga. This investment has boosted port efficiency, eclipsing Mtwara port, while occasioning cargo truck traffic inland, often passing through Arusha to EAC destinations, he said.

In the upcoming ACI meeting, over 300 participants from 54 countries are expected, including representatives from 59 businesses managing 265 airports globally, he said.

The meeting, themed "Toward a Better Green Future: Promoting Sustainable Air Transport and Tourism for Economic Prosperity," the meeting will examine sustainability, safety and efficiency in air transport, with a strong emphasis on environmental concerns, the minister noted.

"The aviation sector is currently under pressure to reduce carbon emissions. ACI Africa, through its members, will adopt strategic measures to achieve this, including implementing green technologies that contribute to sustainable economic growth," he stated.

He commended the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) for earning first place in the safety excellence awards for 2024 from the African Airports Council, which recognized the Julius Nyerere International Airport for the mention among African airports handling over 50,000 flight movements annually.

"Hosting this meeting is a testament to the strategic achievements of our airports,” he said, affirming that the award showers prestige within Africa and globally, as it testifies to high safety standards maintained across the country’s airports.

The seven-day meeting will also feature a designated day for participants to visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and other tourist sites to highlight Tanzania's rich tourism assets, he said.

He mentioned that the government has allocated 11bn/- to install runway lighting at Arusha Airport, enabling 24-hour operations, with the move intended to reduce landing demand at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) while boosting direct flights for  tourism or business.