THE government has invested 83bn/- in the construction of Kwala dry port so far, with additional funds earmarked for its expansion, top authorities affirm.

Gerson Msigwa, the chief government spokesman, said at a briefing following his tour of the port over the weekend that government plans to further modernize and expand the dry port.

This effort will more effectively help to ease the growing congestion at Dar es Salaam port, now overwhelmed by rising cargo volumes, he said of the facility located in Kibaha District in nearby Coast Region, upwards of 80 kilometres from the main port.

The dry port was already playing a vital role in facilitating trade, particularly for nearby landlocked countries, notably Rwanda and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

At present the dry port handles 30 percent of containers offloaded from the main port, with around 400 of the 700 containers cleared at the facility for transportation to neighbouring countries.

He said that when it is fully operational, the upgraded facility will have the capacity to handle 300,000 containers annually, significantly improving logistical efficiency.

The government recognizes the need to expand the Kwala facility to meet the growing demand, he said, citing the urgent need to reduce congestion at Dar port, speed up cargo clearance and improve transit times.

Expanding the dry port will also reduce operating costs, making Dar port more attractive to customers and enhancing its competitiveness in the western rim of the Indian Ocean, he stated.

With a large volume of Dar port cargo transported by rail, the upgraded dry port will enable greater use of the standard gauge railway, further reducing strain on the road infrastructure.

Reducing truck use of Dar port will help increase the long life of the main road infrastructure from Dar to Kibaha, he said, assuring that an expanded inland port will streamline operations invarious areas.

This improvement also supports broader economic and business activities in Dar es Salaam and Coast region when road traffic is eased and road safety improves further.

In addition to improving logistical efficiency, expanding Kwala dry port is expected to create more employment opportunities for residents in the surrounding areas, fostering local economic growth and development, he added.