TRANSPORT and roads infrastructure are critical if the country is to host a successful football World Cup in 2010.

This was emphasised by the MEC for safety liaison, roads and transport, Thobile Mhlahlo, at the recent 2010 Fifa World Cup™ Transport Plan Summit held in Port Elizabeth in the Nelson Mandela Metropole.

"The government has identified transport and infrastructure as critical areas for a successful tournament and the provincial government's department of roads and transport is committed to ensuring that the required state of readiness of the transport system in the province is achieved," Mhlahlo said.

With Nelson Mandela Bay hosting games during the tournament, and Buffalo City and King Sabatha Dalindyebo (Mthatha) being team base camps, Mhlahlo said his officials were serving on all three metropolitan transport advisory boards to provide the necessary leadership in transport planning.

"The integrated transport plans of these municipalities form part of our updated Provincial Land Transport Framework and the Integrated Transport Masterplan, which are our guiding documents for 2010 transport planning."

To have an integrated approach to transport planning across the province, the department launched Transmec in September. Transmec's major role was to enhance communication between provincial and local governments and communities regarding transport matters.

"By January 2008 we [will] start the implementation of the Provincial 2010 Public Transport Operational Plan, which links air, road, rail, maritime, taxi and bus operations," Mhlahlo said.

Talking about the progress the department had made regarding transport improvements, Mhlahlo said that the Eastern Cape was leading the country in the implementation of the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme.

The programme involves scrapping old and unsafe taxis; it was launched in December 2006. Since then, more that 2 000 vehicles had been brought to the provincial scrapping centre in Zwelitsha.

Turning his attention to airport infrastructure, Mhlahlo said that the department was investing R100-million in the upgrading of Bhisho Airport. "The upgrading will end in March 2008 and we expect the airport to operate in full swing very soon as it has been identified for receiving international flights during the World Cup."

Traffic volumes at airports like East London and Port Elizabeth had increased by 23 to 30 percent in 2006. "[Traffic at] East London Airport grew by 16,7 percent on average, reaching a total passenger volume of 698 000 passengers for the year. The current consolidation terminal capacity is 700 000 passengers."

Rail was another important transport mode for the 2010 soccer showpiece. And the department had already obtained a testing and commissioning from the Rail Safety Regulator and was undertaking line inspections as well as driver testing on the Kei Rail line, which links East London and Mthatha.

"We have leased 20 coaches from Shosholoza Meyl to operate the service. In addition, the department is concluding the acquisition of refurbishable coaches for use on the Kei Rail line."

The department of roads and transport expected that line to be operational before the end of the year. It would link the province's 2010 base camps at Buffalo City and King Sabatha Dalindyebo.

Talking about maritime transport, Mhlahlo said the Eastern Cape Provincial Freight Transport Plan was nearing completion.

"With the assistance of the Provincial Freight Logistics Forum, we further want to have a maritime passenger transport strategy that will enable people to commute between Durban, East London, and Port Elizabeth to watch matches in 2010."

In addition to these strategies, the department was spending R1,97-billion a year on routine road maintenance.

Source: buffalocity.gov.za