Property in the vicinity of Rosebank, Park and Sandton railway stations will be the first to be expropriated to make way for the Gautrain line, the Gauteng government said on Tuesday. Land in Midrand will also be expropriated for the construction of the maintenance depot and land in Marlboro for the tunnel portal.
Gautrain spokesperson Barbara Jensen said land would be expropriated in areas where construction would begin first. She said conditions had been placed on the land affected by the Gautrain.
”These require that no approvals for township establishments, subdivisions of land or any changes in land use may be granted within the rail reserve area without consent of Ignatius Jacobs, MEC for public transport, roads and works,” said Jensen.
”This also applies to any utility owner laying, constructing, altering or adding any service that affects the railway reserve.”
Jensen said other processes in the Gautrain project were on track and included the finalisation of negotiations with preferred bidder Bombela.
”The removal of utilities in the rail reserve of the Gautrain, the publication and consultation of minor route amendments, variant route proposals and the environmental management plan are also proceeding.”
Last month, Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa said legal teams would finalise the concession agreement, which once completed, would be submitted to Finance Minister Trevor Manuel for final Treasury approval.
This process should be completed by mid-April and construction on the Gautrain would then get under way, said Jensen. – Sapa