The government of Malawi has increased the construction cost of the 72 kilometers of the Marka-Bangula Railway project with K73 billion in Nsanje district.
Malawi’s Transport and Public Works minister, Jacob Hara disclosed on Wednesday when he toured the project which begun some three years ago with an initial of over K68 billion.
He said the price hike has been reached because of the devastation of designs of the works by tropical cyclone Freddy and the devaluation of the Malawi currency.
“The contractor China Railway 20 Bureau (CR20) had to redesign and restart the construction of the project,” he said.
The minister has assured Malawians that by August, 2025 the first section of from Marka to Nsanje boma will be completed and will be functional.
Acting Engineer for CR 20, Elias Banda concurred with the minister saying by the said period the train will reach at the boma.
He said he is optimistic that his company is going to meet the deadline despite some problems such rainfall which sometimes delays the construction works.
According to the acting engineer five bridges have been completed, four are under construction while eleven bridges are remaining to the last section to get to Bangula Trading Centre as the ending destination.
In his remarks Senior Chief Chimombo has hailed the government for the multibillion project saying it is going to transform the livelihoods of the communities in the district and the country.
“There will be creation of employment to the rural masses in the country,” said the senior traditional leader.