Finance Minister Khamis Mussa Omar has urged contractors building the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to accelerate construction and recover time lost due to implementation challenges, warning that the government expects timely delivery without compromising quality.
Mr Omar said delays in completing connecting sections could undermine the railway's broader objective of linking Tanzania's eastern and western regions, with implications for transport efficiency, trade and economic integration.
He made the remarks during an inspection tour of SGR Lots Three, Four and Five, where he assessed construction progress and held discussions with contractors, project consultants and Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) officials.
According to figures presented during the visit, construction of Lot Three had reached 16.1 per cent, while Lot Four stood at 10.08 per cent, highlighting the need for additional efforts to accelerate implementation.
“These are encouraging developments, although more efforts are needed to accelerate implementation and ensure the project is completed on time,” he said.
Mr Omar acknowledged challenges raised by contractors, consultants and TRC but said the government was working with stakeholders to find solutions and remove obstacles affecting construction.
He commended TRC, the Finance Ministry and technical experts for developing alternative approaches that had helped address some of the bottlenecks and improve the pace of implementation.
The minister said the railway was a strategic investment intended to connect Dar es Salaam through Dodoma to Mwanza and extend towards Kigoma, strengthening transport links between the eastern and western parts of the country.
While the completion of the first section between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma and progress on Lot Five towards Mwanza marked important milestones, he said the connecting sections, including Lot Three, were equally important to completing the network.
“Without completing the sections that connect these areas, we will not have fully achieved the project's major objective of linking the country from east to west,” he said.
He challenged contractors to deliver their assigned works within contractual timelines, stressing that the success of the multibillion-shilling railway project should not be measured by the availability of financing alone.
Instead, he said, performance should also be judged by construction quality and the ability to meet agreed completion schedules.
Mr Omar also raised concerns over environmental and social safeguards, describing them as essential requirements for infrastructure projects financed through loans from international development institutions.
He said the government and its development partners needed to address such requirements early to avoid complications during construction or after project funds had been disbursed.
The emphasis on safeguards comes as the government seeks to ensure that major infrastructure investments meet international standards while addressing the interests of communities affected by construction.
Transport Minister Prof Makame Mbarawa said the joint inspection was intended to strengthen coordination between the Finance and Transport ministries, particularly in ensuring that government funds allocated to the project were properly utilised.
He said the Finance Ministry, which oversees the mobilisation of financial resources, needed to monitor progress on projects it funded, while the Transport Ministry remained responsible for supervising implementation.
TRC Director General Machibya Shiwa and project consulting engineer Salim Omary Salim outlined measures being taken to address construction challenges.
They said the corporation, contractors and project supervisors were working to resolve emerging obstacles while ensuring that construction complied with contractual obligations, quality standards and environmental requirements.
The government's latest push highlights the importance of accelerating the connecting sections if the SGR is to deliver its intended benefits of improving passenger and freight transport, reducing logistical constraints and strengthening economic links across the country.