Tanzania and Burundi have kicked off the construction of a modern railway line connecting Uvinza (Tanzania) to Musongati (Burundi). Valued at $2.15 billion, the project will span 240 kilometers and is expected to be completed within five years, including one year of pilot commissioning. The agreement was reached between the two countries in January 2022.

Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa laid the foundation stone for the 240-km railway project, which is expected to become the first cross-border SGR in East Africa.

The project, which is estimated to cost over 2.15 billion US dollars, is expected to be completed within five years, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Communications Directorate.

Majaliwa assured citizens of both countries that construction would begin on schedule, stressing the potential of the railway to boost regional trade and connectivity.

“Once the project is complete, passengers will be able to travel from Musongati to Dar es Salaam in a single day. Currently, freight trucks take up to 96 hours to reach Bujumbura from Dar es Salaam. Thanks to the railway, this trip will be reduced to only 20 hours,” he said.

He added that the railway will not only facilitate the transport of passengers and goods, but will also open up new investment opportunities and strengthen economic ties between Tanzania and Burundi.