BUSINESS NEWS
Full-steam ahead for Gautrain
Posted Fri, 01 Sep 2006
Construction for the Gautrain will start in September and the 2010 deadline will be met, the Gauteng MEC for public transport said on Thursday.
Ignatius Jacobs welcomed Wednesday's Pretoria High Court ruling in favour of the Gautrain rapid rail link.
"This landmark decision for the Gautrain carries a clear message that the environmental impact assessment on the Gautrain is valid and robust.
"We'll have the big trucks out and we'll be ready to start digging."
Jacobs said the exact date for the start of construction would be announced soon at a launch.
The court dismissed an application by the Muckleneuk/Lukasrand property owners and residents association in Pretoria to stop the Gautrain from running through their area.
"GPG and the Bombela Consortium will now proceed with the construction," Jacobs said.
Project manager Jack van der Merwe said the Gautrain construction would be done in two phases.
"The first phase
will be completed after 45 months. Nine months after the completion of the first phase, the second phase will also be completed."
Van der Merwe said completed areas after the 45 months would be Sandton, Marlboro, Rhodesfield and Johannesburg International Airport.
MEC for Local Government, Dorothy Mahlangu, said they did not anticipate any hitches because all affected municipalities were cooperating.
"If we come across any unforeseen challenges, the public will be notified and we will deal with anything that comes."
Sapa
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