Empty Gautrain will cost public
Johannesburg - If the Gautrain transports fewer than 120 000 people annually, Gautengers could have to pay up to R400m every year to keep the project on track.
The Gautrain project leader, Jack van der Merwe, said subsidies, which would have to be paid if the train didn't transport the minimum number of passengers, were estimated at between R200m and R400m.
These figures were mentioned during the visit of the parliamentary portfolio committee members for transport to the Gauteng legislature.
The province would have to pay the subsidy because the national government won't be held responsible.
James Swart, Democratic Alliance MEC and spokesperson for transport said the increasing costs were making the Gautrain project a white elephant: "It's a pet that will be very hungry."
He said considering the high costs at present, it was worrying that it could increase even more.
"The initial Gautrain estimate was R7bn, but it's already costing more than R22bn. If the costs are going to increase even more, how much will Gautengers have to pay to subsidise the project?"
He thought increasing costs would also rob the government of essential investments in other transport environments.
"If we're going to pay so much on subsidies, what's going to happen about financing public transport systems, building roads and maintenance?"
Swart said it was of utmost importance that cost-savings be implemented urgently for the Gautrain project to work.
News source: www.news24.co.za
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