Mrs Dzifa Attivor, the Minister of Transport, has disclosed that
re-development works on the Western Railway Line, which would stretch
from Takoradi to Kumasi, including a branch line from Dunkwa to Awaso is
estimated to cost $1 billion when completed.
She said the project would ensure the modernization of the Western
Railway Line, which would include modern rail stations, terminals and
ancillary facilities and also safe, smooth and timely services.
Mrs Attivor said this on Monday during a forum to discuss the Front
End Engineering Design (FEED) report on the Western Railway Line.
The FEED report details the look of the Western Railway Lines on
completion, the various aspects of the project, and the estimated cost
The design also involved the renovation and remodeling of 38
stations, including two terminals with all facilities, retrofitting and
reconstruction of more than 200 bridges and culverts, and the provision
of a more realistic estimation of the cost of construction.
The rest are the provision of the state of the art signaling and
telecommunication system, reconstruction and remodeling of workshops and
running sheds among others.
Mrs Attivor said the preliminary designs of the projects would
provide a platform for a transparent and a more realistic engagement
with private sector investors on a project, which would be handled under
the auspices of the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA).
The FEED project or the design for the Western Line by the GRDA was
done by Messrs Team Engineering SpA of Italy, a consultancy with full
funding by the Government.
She urged GRDA to sensitise the public on the design principles and
parameters for the new railway system, which would be implemented in
accordance with the Railway Master Plan for Ghana.
Mrs Attivor cited encroachment on railway lands, and the destruction
of railway lands by illegal miners as some of the major challenges
facing the railway system.
“Also illegal leasing of lands by the Ghana Railway Company, thereby
creating litigation on some of these lands needed for development, is
also a matter of concern”, she said.
She said the Ministry would do all it could to protect these lands for the development of the railways sector.
She said concerns, which would be raised at the end of the forum
would be used to assist the consultants in proceeding with the
finalization of the preliminary design to guide the country’s efforts to
develop the railway network, whiles optimizing construction cost.
She said the final report on the design would serve as the guide to
those who would be chosen by the GRDA for the construction of the
Western Railway Line.
Mr Michele Nemesi, the Country Director, Team Engineering SpA, said
an efficient and an effective railway system would serve as one of the
best tools in helping to shape the economy of any country which takes it
seriously.
He said the FEED would serve as a great tool and help financiers know the exact amount, which would go into the construction.
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