DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania and Burundi on Saturday officially launched the construction of a modern standard gauge railway (SGR) linking Uvinza in western Tanzania to Musongati in eastern Burundi.

Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa laid the foundation stone for the 240-km railway project, which is set to become the first cross-border SGR in East Africa.

The project, estimated to cost more than 2.15 billion U.S. dollars, is expected to be completed within five years, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's directorate of communications.

Majaliwa assured citizens of both countries that construction will commence on schedule, emphasizing the railway's potential to boost regional trade and connectivity.

"Once completed, passengers will be able to travel from Musongati to Dar es Salaam in a single day. Currently, cargo trucks take up to 96 hours to reach Bujumbura from Dar es Salaam. With the railway, that journey will be reduced to just 20 hours," he said.

He added that the railway will not only ease passenger and freight transport but also unlock new investment opportunities and strengthen economic ties between Tanzania and Burundi.

Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye hailed the project as a long-awaited dream come true.

Highlighting Burundi's rich mineral resources, especially nickel, he recalled strong investor interest in the sector. "Many asked how we would transport the minerals. This railway is the answer," he said, expressing gratitude to Tanzania for its partnership.

He also outlined future ambitions to extend the railway to Kindu in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and eventually to West Africa's Atlantic coast, envisioning a pan-African corridor for development.

According to Lin Xiaotong, a representative from the China Railway Group Limited, which leads the consortium building the line, the cross-border railway -- designed with a 1,435 mm international standard gauge and full electrification -- is expected to be completed around 2030.

Serving as a vital transport corridor between Tanzania and Burundi, the railway is a key project poised to invigorate regional economic development and accelerate East African integration, he added. Enditem