The Jakaya Kikwete Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) station in Morogoro is expected to save more than TZS106 million annually following an intervention by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to address its unreliable water supply.
The intervention is expected to ease pressure on the station's operating budget, which had been burdened by the cost of purchasing water and transporting it using specialised tankers.
Morogoro PCCB Senior Officer Casius Kiaro said the bureau identified the problem through its social services monitoring programme and worked with Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) and the Morogoro Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (Moruwasa) to find a solution.
"By resolving the water challenge at the station, we expect to save more than TZS106.08 million annually, which was being spent on purchasing and transporting water using specialised vehicles," he said.
Presenting the bureau's performance report for the past six months, Mr Kiaro said the station had previously spent TZS2.21 million a week, equivalent to TZS8.24 million a month, on water supplied by tankers.
The expenditure was necessary because the station lacked a reliable water supply to support its operations and the needs of train services.
He said PCCB's intervention was aimed at addressing the challenge and reducing unnecessary expenditure in the management of public infrastructure.
Moruwasa Zone One Manager Gidion Chahe said water supply to the station was currently provided twice a week, while efforts were under way to strengthen storage capacity to meet demand.
He said the station, in collaboration with the water authority, was constructing large storage tanks designed to hold sufficient water for between three and five days.
Meanwhile, acting Jakaya Kikwete Station Manager Salvatory Kimaro said demand had increased considerably as passenger numbers and train services expanded.
"When we started operations, we had fewer trips and water demand stood at 6,000 litres. However, train services and passenger numbers have increased. Current water demand stands at 152,000 litres a week," he said.
The development highlights the importance of reliable supporting infrastructure in sustaining railway operations as passenger numbers grow, while reducing costs that would otherwise place additional pressure on public resources.