Tanzania's Finance Minister Demands Faster Progress on Strategic SGR Railway
Tanzania's Minister of Finance, Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar, has directed contractors to accelerate construction of the Standard Gauge Railway, urging them to recover lost time while maintaining quality and environmental standards. Progress on Sections Three and Four stands at 16.1% and 10.08%, respectively.
Tanzania's Minister of Finance, Hon. Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar, has directed contractors implementing the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project to accelerate construction works to recover time lost due to various challenges, while maintaining high standards of workmanship and ensuring compliance with environmental and social safeguards.
Speaking during an inspection visit to assess construction progress on SGR Sections Three, Four and Five, Ambassador Omar emphasised the Government's determination to expedite the strategic infrastructure project to achieve its objective of connecting different parts of the country through a modern railway network.
He acknowledged the challenges encountered during implementation, as outlined by the contractor, supervising consultant and Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC), noting that the Government continues to engage relevant stakeholders to identify practical solutions and accelerate construction progress.
Ambassador Omar commended TRC, the Ministry of Finance and other technical experts for developing an alternative implementation arrangement that has helped address some of the obstacles and improve the pace of project execution.
“According to the progress reports, construction of Section Three has reached 16.1 percent, while Section Four stands at 10.08 percent. This represents encouraging progress, although greater efforts are required to accelerate implementation and ensure the project is completed on schedule,” Ambassador Omar said.
He underscored the strategic importance of the SGR project in strengthening connectivity between eastern and western Tanzania, linking Dar es Salaam through Dodoma to Mwanza, with further connections extending towards Kigoma.
The Minister noted that the completion of the first section connecting Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, alongside ongoing construction of Section Five towards Mwanza, represents significant progress in developing the country's modern railway infrastructure.
However, he stressed that completing the intermediate sections, particularly Section Three, remains essential to establishing a fully integrated railway network and realising the project's broader economic and transport objectives.
“Unless we complete the sections connecting these destinations, we will not fully achieve the project's overarching objective of linking the country from east to west,” Ambassador Omar emphasised.
The Minister reiterated the Government's commitment to working closely with contractors, consultants and TRC to overcome implementation challenges, accelerate construction and deliver a modern railway network capable of strengthening national connectivity and supporting Tanzania's long-term economic development.