Work on Batchenga-Ka’a rail line progressing

The 21st Inter-ministerial Committee in charge of Railway Infrastructure, met on May 26, 2015.

Members of the Inter-ministerial Committee in charge of Railway Infrastructure, COMIFER, have parted company in the Ministry of Transport in Yaounde, rejoicing at progress made in the first phase of earmarked projects.

It emerged from the get-together yesterday, May 26, 2015, chaired by COMIFER President, Robert Nkili and Minister of Transport, that the rehabilitation of the 175 km Batchenga-Ka’a railway line by CREC Company was on a good footing. It is part of the first phase of the project from 2009 to 2013.

Robert Nkili saluted the acquisition by government of 40 new luxury coaches, the ongoing renovation of railway stations and art gallery at Edea PK 70 Bridge and the putting in place of an industrial unit for the production of counterbalances across the bi-bloc at the Ebaka hauler.

The purchase of 50 platform wagons and refurbishment of goods transportation equipment, acquisition of 25 petroleum wagons, eight new trains and rehabilitation of some equipment for the transportation of merchandise, amongst others, by the Cameroon Railway Company, Camrail, received appreciation.

It was however revealed that the contract to acquire three more trains has already been signed while the railway company and the Chinese CSR Nanjing company have finalized terms for the acquisition of 15 passenger coaches and automobile rail modules.

The FCFA 105 billion project has so far seen the spending of over FCFA 101 billion. FCFA 48 billion was secured by the State and FCFA 57 billion by Camrail, it was disclosed.

Phase Two

Discussions on the second phase of the project, which is expected to end in 2020, have started with COMIFER members agreeing that the same team that undertook studies on the first phase be maintained. “A winning team needs not to be changed,” Robert Nkili said, recalling that the second phase of the railway infrastructure development programme was going to focus on the Yaounde-Douala rail line.

COMIFER members agreed that a representative of the Ministry of Environment and Protection of Nature be involved in the second phase. The overall cost from 2009 to 2020 is evaluated at FCFA 230 billion, with Camrail expected to source for FCFA 131 billion while the State fetches FCFA 99 billion.

The team is already sourcing for the colossal sum from its partners in the United States of America, China and the European Investment Bank.

COMIFER overseer tasked Camrail to speed up work as the country looks forward to host the 2016 and 2019 African Cups of Nation. He stressed that “We have to facilitate the movement of people/spectators from one town to the other.”

The General Manager of Camrail, Quentin Gerard, pledged to intensify the process to acquire more passenger equipment as well as the putting in place of a modern railway station in Yaounde.