TANZANIA Ports Authority (TPA) has commended Trade Mark East Africa (TMA) for funding some of the ongoing upgrading Dar es Salaam port projects.

According to the Acting Director General, Mr Awadhi Massawe, TPA, upon completion the projects, efficiency at the port would tremendously improve and make it more competitive regionally.

A delegation from TMA toured the Dar es Salaam port over the weekend to inspect various projects they fund. “We have some challenges in regard to some infrastructure here but TMA is helping us sort out some of them,” Mr Massawe said.

He noted that currently, TMA is funding gates expansion project that aims at easing trucks congestion being experienced. Upon completion, gate number five will only be used for incoming trucks to load cargo at Tanzania International Container Terminal Ltd (TICTS).

Gate number four will be used for exit of all trucks, while gate number eight will be used by trucks taking cargo from TICTS.

TMA is also funding rehabilitation of a road from UDA area up to Mivinjeni that will help ease congestion of trucks as a result of closing of a section of Mandela Expressway covering an area from UDA to Dar es Salaam Institute of Accountancy (TIA) for rehabilitation and bridge construction.

At the moment all traffic passes via a road near TPA headquarter offices toward Kilwa Road and meet with traffic coming from Kariakoo and city centre areas and leads to a serious road traffic congestion.

TMA is funding Phase one of Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project (DMGP) which focuses on enhancing port’s spatial efficiency through demolition and relocation of sheds 2-7, upgrading roads and gates to introduce a single way traffic flow system at the port, improving productivity and operational processes.

DMGP is aimed at modernising the port by improving its physical infrastructure capacity and operational efficiency. A total cost of the whole DMGP project is valued at USD 585 million. Phase one of the project is expected to increase Dar port’s throughput to 18 million tons by 2016/2017 and 22 million tons by 2020.

A member of the board of TMA, Mr Ali Mufuruki, expressed his appreciation after witnessing smooth continuation of projects they fund.

“This port is crucial for Tanzania and other neighbouring countries’ prosperity,” he said. TMA believes that Tanzania’s highest economic growth in the region will only be sustained if trade becomes more competitive in region and globally.

Dar port serves seven landlocked countries including DRC, Zambia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Source: Daily News

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TradeMark Africa.