Gauteng budget boosts transport

PROJECTS: R6.6BN ALLOCATED FOR MAJOR PLANS – MEC ‘Planned expansion of Gautrain rail system will link Tshwane and Ekurhuleni with Lanseria International Airport.’

The Gauteng government will implement large projects for road infrastructure that will see a further rollout of the Bus Rapid Transit system in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.

The announcement was made by roads and transport MEC Ismail Vadi while presenting his 2015/16 budget vote speech in the provincial legislature.

Vadi said his department has been allocated R6.6 billion for its core programmes in the current fiscal year. These include the extension of the Gautrain system and the recapitalisation of Metrorail.

“The city is on track in rolling out phase 1C of Rea Vaya between Alexandra, Sandton, Midrand, Ivory Park and the Johannesburg central business district,” he said.

“These game-changing projects will create over 500 000 jobs during the construction and post-construction phases. The planned expansion of the Gautrain rapid rail system will link Tshwane and Ekurhuleni with Lanseria International Airport.”

The city has concluded negotiations with public transport operators in Dobsonville, Riverlea, Coronationville, Mapetla and Pimville – where Rea Vaya was currently operating, said Vadi.

He said a new bus operating company, which is wholly owned by former minibus taxi operators and Putco, would start operating from July 1.

Vadi highlighted some of the plans and achievements in the corridor developments. He said his department has completed the construction of William Nicol Drive, adding it would be officially opened next month.

The department would also upgrade Cedar Road into a dual carriageway and upgrade the K46 into a dual carriageway from Diepsloot towards Randburg.

According to Vadi, the new dispensation on e-tolls showed government was “responsive and sensitive to the citizens’ concerns”. He said both the national and provincial governments had agreed to make financial contributions to the SA National Roads Agency Limited so as to ease the financial burden on low- and middle-income families.