Rail upgrade for Border Kei region
Lucky Khumalo
8 February 2005
The Kei Rail project linking the former Ciskei and Transkei is upgrading rail infrastructure and services between East London and Mthatha, as part of a wider plan to stimulate socio-economic development in the Border Kei region.
The Eastern Cape Department of Transport has set aside R50-million for the completion of phase 3 of the project in the 2005/06 financial year.
The department says it has already employed over 1 400 people through the project, and that small businesses are already benefiting through contracts for fencing and painting bridges.
According to Project spokesman Hein van Heerden, the Border Kei region used to be a hub of manufacturing, but this died down when some of the factories in Butterworth and Umtata closed down a few years ago.
"This project will revive the once active economy of the region again", Van Heerden said, with short-term targets including the timber and agricultural sectors.
"Opportunities
have been created for investors, which have meant job creation for communities", he said, adding that 28 000 more jobs would be created over a period of 20 years.
The move of freight from road to rail is expected to cut down expenditure on road maintenance and accidents, and could save the provincial government up to R800-million a year.
"Taxpayers will see their money going further to promoting skills transfer and training and boosting tourism and business opportunities for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs", Van Heerden said.
The construction of the Ugie-Langeni link road in the eastern side of the province will also help to unlock the region's natural resources, and could have a major impact on tourism.
Source: BuaNews
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