Parliament committee calls for rail link and Kwala dry port to ease Dar es Salaam truck congestion

Tanzania's Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure has called for the Kwala Dry Port to take a larger role in easing the truck congestion that continues to affect Dar es Salaam.

The committee also wants stakeholders involved in building a railway to move cargo from Dar es Salaam port to inland dry ports. Chairman Selemani Kakoso said the Tanzania Ports Authority should examine cooperation with Tanzania Railways Corporation and other parties to develop the required infrastructure.

The recommendations come amid complaints about long lines of trucks on the city's roads. The congestion has been linked to the large number of dry ports handling cargo from Dar es Salaam port, despite earlier expectations that the Kwala project would help resolve the problem.

Kakoso spoke on Monday, September 7, 2026, after leading committee members on a visit to an oil storage tank project and the site of the Tanzania Ports Authority's dry port at Kurasini. He said Dar es Salaam port was receiving more than 1.3 million containers and had exceeded its storage capacity. The committee chairman said using Kwala could help move cargo away from the city and reduce pressure on its roads.

The committee also asked the Tanzania National Roads Agency to build a dedicated route for transferring cargo from the port to dry ports. It called for dry ports in Morogoro and Dodoma to be strengthened so cargo destined for direct transport could be moved more efficiently. Dar es Salaam Port Director Abed Gallus recently told editors that 1.3 million containers were still awaiting collection.