Port of Gauteng unveils White Paper proposing inland port to ease Durban-Gauteng freight corridor

Private sector initiative the Port of Gauteng has released a White Paper to mark the start of Transport Month, setting out a plan aimed at addressing the inefficiencies in South Africa’s freight transport system and providing a response to the targets laid out in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030. The document, which was published on September 30, in Boksburg, Gauteng, outlines how the planned inland logistics hub could shift freight volumes from road to rail, relieve congestion on the Durban–Gauteng freight corridor and create what the developers claim will be more than 50 000 permanent jobs. The Port of Gauteng is being developed by NT55 Investments, which owns substantial tracts of land designated for the project. This includes about 107 ha along the railway line, 80 ha along the N3 highway, 20 ha along Barry Marais road and a further 60 ha earmarked for future expansion. The inland port is being proposed as a solution to mounting pressure on the national transport network, with rising volumes linked to the entry of e-commerce companies such as Shein, Temu and Amazon, along with the rapid increase in imported vehicles. As these companies expand, they are expected to move from air freight to container shipping, which would add to existing constraints on the corridor. For more visit www.engineeringnews.co.za