In addition to their role in cargo transshipment, dry ports may also include facilities for storage and consolidation of goods, maintenance for road or rail cargo carriers and customs clearance services. The location of these facilities at a dry port relieves competition for storage and customs space at the seaport itself.
A dry inland port can speed the flow of cargo between ships and major land transportation networks, creating a more central distribution point. Inland ports can improve the movement of imports and exports, moving the time-consuming sorting and processing of containers inland, away from congested seaports,
Kwala Dry Port in Coast region has started operating after the first consignment of 29 containers arrived at the facility, located 90 kilometers westward from Dar es Salaam.
It is the first time the dry port receives consignments, indicating its official start as it was built to alleviate congestion at the port of Dar es Salaam.
The start of the activities at the dry port followed the completion of the project, with 5.5 hectares of concrete surface added for the containers.
The area is part of 60 hectares that will be built to accommodate a total of 500 containers at one time, said Astashasta Nditiye, Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communications.
Receiving the freight train at the port at the weekend, he said the start of operations at Kwala Dry Port was an important step in solving the port congestion challenge.
It is an open secret that congestion at the Dar es Salaam port has raised complaints from customers. We commend the government and the Tanzania Ports Authority in ensuring the project is completed.
We are satisfied with the big accomplishment including the construction of the hard concrete surface in the container stacking area, the drainage system, initial infrastructure for electricity supply, water supply, ICT, fire precautions along with offices and quarters for port officials and other employees.
This should be now a challenge to Kibaha district authorities and Coast region as well to use the dry port as an inducement for enhanced economic activities in the area.
The is no doubt the project is a result of the fifth phase government’s intention to solve the problem of goods congestion at Dar es Salaam port.
We now appeal to business people inside and outside the country to use available the TPA ports as their operations and security have been beefed up.
According to TPA director general Eng Deusdedit Kakoko the work is implemented in phases in the 60 hectares area, which is part of the 500 hectares taken over by TPA within Kwala Ward.
Kudos to Suma JKT contractors for accomplishing the first phase of the project.. The project which began in February 2017 at a total cost of 47bn/- and is now expected to be fully completed this year.
The project’s first phase included clearing of 120 hectares of land, leveling it, filling with ballast and construction of 1.3 km of railway from Kwala centre to the port.
The second phase incorporated the raising of the ridge for five sets of rails of 500 metre long and fencing it with a 3.2 km perimeter fence. It also incorporated the construction of power, water, communication and fire equipment infrastructures as well offices as staff quarters, he specified.
We hail the government for timely payment to the contractor. So far 45 per cent has been paid and the entire project will be completed in July.
Phase three will include the construction of Kwala Dry port to Vigwaza along Morogoro Road to concrete level.
Come July, the port will be connected with the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to transport containers to upcountry regions and outside the country. All in all, this is a milestone in the country’s industrialisation agenda.
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