By Ndumbe Bell Gaston In Douala
The Minister of Transport Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe has disclosed his intention to construct 6 automatic level crossings with four in yaounde and two in Douala in the months ahead.
He made this known at the closure of a two-day joint inter-ministerial road infrastructural and travellers committee working session on Friday July 20 at the Cameroon Railway (Camrail) precincts in Douala and to assure the controls and follow-up of railway activities and investment issues.
The working session also highlighted the concrete role railway plays in the socio-economic development of the nation. The difficulties in the maintenance and rehabilitation of rail infrastructures were also discussed.
In the presence of Pascal Miny who heads Camrail, the Minister categorically stated that automatic rail crossings were important since he deplored the fact that railway crossings have to day become death traps or cemeteries while exhorting those concerned to take care of the new equipments which will be used for new construction purposes.
Interestingly, neither a start date nor the total cost of the investment was yet mentioned. Instead, he went ahead to state that the job that is to be realized by public investors and their stakeholders, will assure the security of the users.
Ngale Bibehe declared, “The mobility and the security of passengers are of paramount importance in all forms of transportation.”
Since April 1999Camrail and Shareholder Bollore Africa Logistics have been responsible for railway network management in the country.