The light rail transit service project, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has embarked on the construction phase after completing most of the preparation work according to Yehualashet Jemere Project Manager with the Ethiopian Railway Corporation.

The Chinese contractor, CREC, has begun construction around Meshualekia and Ayat Village.

The preparation work for the rail line has been contracted to domestic contractors and is expected to significantly enhance technology transfer said Engineer Getachew Betru General Manager of the Ethiopian Railway Corporation.

It is expected that the first phase of the light rail transit project in Addis Abba will be finalized within a period of 30 months. The rail line will begin service with 41 rails each with the capacity to transport 286 people at a time. This allows for the transport of 60,000 people every hour in four different directions and is expected to solve problems in transport in the city.

The project will be completed on time in spite of some delays experienced along the way said Muferiat Kamil Chairperson of the Transport Affairs Standing Committee with the House of People’s Representatives.

The Addis Ababa rail project is expected to cost more than 400 million US dollars. The Ethiopian government will cover 40% of the financing with the Chinese government covering the difference.

A 17.26km stretch of railway will connect Ayat Village to the Defense forces Hospital while 16.246km of rail lines will lead from Meskel Square to Kality and 3.875km of railway is to extend between Lideta and Menilik Square.

Source: Walta Info