Work on the 96.7 kilometers Tema-Mpakadan Railway project is nearing completion with Contractors for the Project announcing the 31st of March 2022 for the substantial completion of the project.

According to the Executive Director (Operations) of AFCONS Infrastructure Limited, the Indian company working on the project, Akhil Gupta, though the project will be completed on the 31st of March Substantial; all final finishing touches on the project will be completed by 30th June 2022.

He said almost all 159 railway structures have been developed, with all 6 railway stations at their finishing stages.

Mr. Akhil Gupta who was speaking to the media when he paid a snap visit to some project sites in Tema said, 68 kilometers of rail lines from the Tema Harbour Station to Kpong Station have so far been completed with a trial test using a utility vehicle.

Mr. Gupta who is in Ghana for a 3-day working visit added he was satisfied with the progress of work such as the completion of skeleton tracks, and the assurance that the project will be completed significantly by the 31st of March, although it may take another three months for the final finishing touches.

With the apex of the project being that of the world-class Volta lake Rail Bridge which will link rail from Tema to Mpakadan after completion, Mr. Akhil Gupta was confident the project will be completed by the 31st of March despite its complexity.

He said though they encountered a typical and challenging geological with the Volta lake bridge, all the major pipes have been completed.

He said the bridge can boast of having executed one of the deepest raker piles anywhere in the world with a diameter of1.6 and 65 meter long

He said Afcons mobilized a special team to design and execute this deep profile bridge with the deployment of specialized equipment for this critical activity, including a 1,000 MT capacity steel barge which was all constructed locally for the bridge project.

He said, with contractors managing to complete 3 out 5 60m spans, he’s optimistic the project will be completed by the end of March 2022.

Meanwhile AFCONs infrastructure limited has hinted at its intentions to undertake the Western Corridor railway development project which is expected to begin next year.

The project if completed will link rail lines from Kumasi to Takoradi.

By: Isaac Clottey