World Cup 2010 Blog

With improved stadia, better roads and a brand new bus transport system destined for the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, the 2010 FIFA World Cup is set to leave its mark on the city. “We are fast tracking economic growth in the city, with our current economic growth at about 6 percent,â€? said Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Gwen Ramokgopa, on Thursday.

“We are doubling our road infrastructure expenditure next year … attracting investors to the city, creating jobs and improving the lives of the people,â€? she said.

The mayor was speaking at an informal meeting held on Thursday by the World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) aimed at updating the media on preparations for the World Cup.

A total of R1.9 billion has been set aside for establishing Tshwane’s Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system.

The BRT system involves creating dedicated bus lanes which will run from the outskirts of the city to the Central Business District (CBD) as well as to the east of the city, thus improving travel times for commuters.

“The first phase of the BRT will be ready for 2010 and is one of the city’s key legacy projects. We have just bought 100 new buses and another 200 new buses are on their way,” said the mayor.

The Gautrain Rapid Rail Link which will run travel to Pretoria will cut travel time between Pretoria and Johannesburg to less than 35 minutes travelling at speeds of 160km or more.

Other World Cup projects taking place in and around the city include a R100 million initiative to widen roads around the main stadium, Loftus Versfeld. Loftus will also be upgraded to meet FIFA standards with a new pavilion on the stadiums east side, a state-of-the-art media centre, and improvements to the pitch.

R500 million will be spent on upgrading the practice stadia around the city. This will include the widening of roads around stadia in townships.

The Tshwane Metro’s local economy is based on the manufacturing and services industries. Between 1995 and 1997 the city’s annual growth rate was 1.7 percent compared to 6 percent in 2007.

Source: Buanews