The Federal Government on Tuesday flagged off the commencement of the USD1.959b Kano-Maradi Railway project.
President Muhammadu Buhari presided over the virtual Ground breaking ceremony for commencement of the construction of the vital transportation infrastructure in Kastina.
According to the President, “the project, when completed, would serve import and export of goods for Niger Republic and other countries in the sub-region through Nigerian ports.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi while speaking at the occasion noted that the project having its corridor within Kano, Katsina, Jigawa states and a 25Km extension into Niger Republic involves construction of single track standard gauge rail line with an alignment of approximately 284Km traversing Kano – Dambatta – Kazaure – Shargelle – Mashi – Daura – Katsina – Jibiya – Maradi and a 94Km branch line from Kano to Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State.
According to Amaechi, the entire network of the project has fifteen (15) railway stations of different categories with major stations of approximately 3,000 peak passenger capacity in cities of Kano and Katsina and stations of standard category in Kazaure, Daura, Jibiya and Dutse and minor stations in Dambatta, Shargelle and Mashi as well as halt stations in Kunya, Kano airport, Muduru, Dadara and in Niger Republic at Annol Mata and Maradi.
Amaechi added that the project will reach a substantial completion in year 2023 when it will be ready to handle passenger and freight daily traffic forecast of 9,364 passengers and approximately 3,000 metric tons of freight on return trips between Kano and Maradi.
He stressed that the route when linked with the ongoing Lagos – Kano railway project on completion, will generate higher traffic volumes and revenue.
The rail line is also provided with accessories and special installations including Power and Water Supply schemes, Signalling System & Communication in GSM-Railway, Freight yards, Rolling stock depots and maintenance.
