By Bongani Majola
Construction on the multi-million rand Gautrain project - the express train that will operate between Johannesburg and Tshwane - will begin in May next year, Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs Jabu Moleketi announced last week.
The first phase of the construction, between Sandton and Tshwane and between Sandton and Johannesburg International Airport, would be completed within 42 months, the MEC said.
Moleketi, who chairs the project, held a media briefing last week and gave an overview of the project, highlighting the next steps to be taken and reflecting on the developments so far.
The final tender documents were to be submitted to the Gauteng government at the end of September, Moleketi said. This was "after months of consultation and 127 public meetings, where the government and the Gautrain project leaders gave ample opportunity to all stakeholders to make their views known". Two consortia, Bombela and Gauliwe, were selected last November to tender for the procurement phase.
Moleketi said the first phase of construction should be completed in 42 months. The second phase, "the section between Sandton and Johannesburg", would take 60 months, the MEC added.
Much time had been spent on the planning phases of the Gautrain project. A vital part of the package was the environmental impact assessment (EIA). The initial draft EIA was made public last year and interested parties had until the end of December 2002 to lodge comments and complaints.
The desired route was based on the EIA, the Gautrain team said. The EIA included a comprehensive bio-physical and socio-economic evaluation process to "recommend a route with the least environmental impact and which also remained technically and financially feasible".
Compensation would be paid to property owners whose land stood on the Gautrain route, project leader Jack van der Merwe said during the briefing. However, the number of properties that had to be appropriated was less than originally anticipated. "We are happy to say that only 390 houses will now be demolished, as opposed to the original 800 houses."
Responding to questions about safety on the train, Van der Merwe said there would be a camera system used along the tracks and the railway would be built in such a way that "it will not be easy to interfere with the route, the rail or cables". There were also plans to use transport police, "a force dedicated exclusively to the safety and security of passengers", Van der Merwe added.
The Gautrain was probably the most exciting transportation project in Africa, said Gauteng MEC for Transport Khabisi Mosunkutu. "It will definitely play an important role in stimulating economic growth and job creation in the province," he added.
The relieving of traffic congestion, especially on the N1 highway between Johannesburg and Tshwane, was a major plus factor for the rail link. "It will play an important role in the promotion of public transport and in changing the culture of public transport usage in South Africa," Mosunkutu said.
Asked whether his department would use a big stick to persuade citizens to abandon their cars, Mosunkutu said: "The big stick is in the form of making public transport efficient, reliable, safe and irresistible."
- Jonews
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