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3/15/2018

Yapı Merkezi Lays the Foundation of Morogora-Makutupora High-Speed Train Line

Yapı Merkezi lays the foundation of Morogora-Makutupora high-speed train line in Tanzania in a $1.9 billion deal

One of the leading Turkish companies operating in Rail Systems and Railway Projects, Yapı Merkezi Group held the ground breaking ceremony for the second phase worth $1.9 billion of the first high-speed train (HST) line of East Africa. 

The ceremony was held at Ihumwa train station in the capital Dodoma. Tanzania Head of State John Magufuli, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, Minister of Transport, Public Works and Communication Makame Mbarawa, Turkey's Ambassador to Dar al-Salam Ali Davutoğlu, and Yapı Merkezi Deputy Chairman Erdem Arıoğlu attended the ceremony.

Tanzania Head of State Magufuli stated that railway transportation was cheaper than other means of transportation. Stating that 30,000 people would be employed and a contribution would be made to the lives of 600,000 people including the ancillary jobs, Magufuli said that the project was the future of the people of Tanzania. Magufuli also said that they wanted to expand the ports of Dar al-Salam, Tanga and Mtwara, and to build a large airport in Dodoma.

Pointing out in his speech at the ceremony that Yapı Merkezi was among the top 10 railway companies, Ambassador Davutoğlu said: "This project will fulfill a dream of Tanzania." 

The 1,224-km high-capacity railway investment between Dar al-Salam and Mwanza planned by Tanzania is made up of 5 stages. The company first started building the Dar al-Salam-Morogoro line that in a $1.2 billion deal, and then the $1.9 billion Morogoro-Makutupora line, undertaking $3.1 billion worth of contracts in Tanzania.

As it is known, 15 companies participated in the tender for the second-phase HST Project that is planned to be 336 km long and to carry 17 million tons of cargo, and the contract was awarded to Yapı Merkezi TEBA:1835/ October 2, 2017.