Beira, Mozambique, 6 June – Reparation work on the Dondo/Inhamitanga and the Inhamitanga/Marromeu branchline in _Mozambique, extending over 265 kilometres, has practically been concluded with only the repair of two aqueducts remaining, according to a report in Notícias newspaper.

In the contract signed between the Indian joint venture Rites and Icon (Ricon) and Mozambican port and rail management company, Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM) outlines that work on the Sena line would be handed over as they are concluded, thus making it possible for trains to immediately run on the repaired line.

The World Bank has applied US$110 million to the project, and the remainder, expected to cost US$30 million will be funded by CFM’s partners.

The paper added that this stretch of railway and the branchline would go into operation this month and initially would transport sugar produced by Companhia de Sena in Marromeu would be transported to be exported via the port of Beira, limestone to be used by the Mozambique Cement Factory, in Dondo, and wood from Cheringoma and other agricultural products ion which the Zambeze valley is rich.

Speaking to teh newspaper, the director for Transport and Communications in Sofala, Manuel Guimarães, restated that overall work on the Sena line would end in May 2009.

Guimarães noted that tenders had already been launched for reconstruction of the stations along the line, which extends a total of 652 kilomtres.

The Sena line links the railway stations of Dondo, in Sofala, to the coal village of Moatize, in Tete, and includes the branchlines of Inhamitanga/Marromeu and Mutarara/Vila Nova da Fronteira, and traffic on the line was stopped on 23 September 1983 due to the Mozambican civil war. (macauhub)