Mombasa residents using the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) will soon be using trains at the Mombasa town railway terminus in a bid to reduce traffic congestion on the road.
The Mombasa terminus will be connected to a meter gauge railway system and passengers will be able to board the train after alighting from the SGR to the town center which will help in cutting down the transport cost.
Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said on Thursday that the ground breaking of the Mombasa –Miritini commuter train which was done yesterday immediately after the commissioning of the Makupa Bridge by the President, is aimed at providing a seamless connection between Mombasa and Miritini which is about 15 kilometers and it will also motivate more people to board SGR.
“The ground breaking of the Mombasa commuter rail is very important as we all know people visiting the town are forced to alight at the Miritini station and use boda boda or matatu into the island which is a bit hectic,” said Macharia.
Macharia said that the cost of the project is about Sh.4.2 billion whereby a new Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) will be constructed from Miritini station connecting to the old railway.
He added that they will also rehabilitate the old MGR to make sure that people can come from Miritini station all the way to Mombasa Island.
“We intend to complete the project in about 10 months so that passengers won’t have to use boda bodas to come into the city of Mombasa,” added Macharia.
The railway line was tampered with in January this year upon the construction of the Sh.4.5 billion Makupa Bridge.
The bridge is one of Uhuru’s regime flagship projects in the coastal region aimed at decongesting the city.
Besides alleviating traffic congestion, the bridge was also built to elevate the status of Mombasa as an island city.
The bridge will give Mombasa a new landmark with an elegant view of the Indian Ocean. It floats above the sea with each of the lanes being 20 meters wide.
The project includes an extension of a pedestrian walk rail for residents and tourists.
In addition its design meets the requirements of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) regarding the preservation of marine life.
The new 450 meters stretch will allow the dredging of both sides of Tudor and Port-Reiz creeks.
The jubilee administration has undertaken several major infrastructural projects that have been projected to be game changers in the coast region.
Other notable projects launched include the Likoni floating bridge and Changamwe interchange.
By Chari Suche
