Dar es Salaam, Jan. 30 -- DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) has signed a 2.13 billion US dollars (about 5.38tri/-) construction contract with a Chinese consortium to build a key section of the electric Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) linking Tanzania and Burundi.

The agreement, financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), was signed in Dar es Salaam yesterday between TRC and the consortium of China Railway Construction Engineering Group and China Railway Major Bridge Group (CRCEG/ CRMBG).

The project is expected to be completed within 72 months, including a 12-month review period. The new line will extend 282 kilometres (approximate ly 175 miles) from Uvinza, in Kigoma to Musongati in Burundi.

It will branch off fr...