Unmoved+by+the+Gautrain,+Thabo+Mkhize,+Sunday+Times+Metro

Sunday Times Metro, Johannesburg, 23 April 2006
=Unmoved by the Gautrain=


 * //Nearly 40% feel project is a waste of money//**


 * THABO MKHIZE**

MORE than a third of South Africans believe that the Gautrain project is a waste of money.

This is according to a recent poll on public perceptions on the project.

The survey revealed that 39% believed the R20-billion price tag was “unreasonable”, while 28% of the country’s black population were not even aware of the project.

A further 36.8% were undecided on whether the cost was excessive.

Interestingly, though, Plus 94 Poll, the company that conducted the survey, showed that 46.8% of Gauteng residents considered the cost “reasonable”.

At least 1530 respondents from across the country were polled and asked a series of questions, including whether they would use the train and how much they would be willing to pay for a trip.

The survey came amid continued objections from residents whose homes will be expropriated to pave the way for the high- speed train expected to slash traffic congestion mainly between Joburg and Pretoria.

Gautrain spokesman Barbara Jensen told Metro that over 50 letters of intent to expropriate properties had already been issued.

“A further 350 properties have been surveyed and beacons placed [to mark the route]. Notices for those properties will be issued in the coming weeks,” she said.

Since the project was announced by Gauteng Premier Mbazima Shilowa in 2000, it has lurched from one controversy to another.

Unions, residents and businesses have criticised it, while the developers have had to fend off several court actions taken against the project.

Jensen said they were aware of some complaints by residents regarding the beacons being erected but that this was “expected”.

“You will always find people who are not very happy about what is happening,” she said, adding that construction would begin early next month shortly after the deal was signed by the developers and the provincial government.

Jensen said part of Rivonia Road in Sandton and Oxford Road in Rosebank would be closed off when the project started.

“This is a very big project. The concession document [the contract to be signed] will be about 40000 pages when completed,” she said.

The 80km Gautrain Rail Link system will ferry passengers between Joburg’s Park Station and Tshwane. Its stops will include Centurion, Midrand and the Johannesburg International Airport.

The construction is set to affect more than 1000 properties.

Clinton Jones, a property owner in Modderfontein, said his attempts to find out more information about the project has fallen on deaf ears.

“I’ve phoned the Gautrain people to find out the exact route but I can’t get anyone to tell me where it is going to go.”

He said he was concerned that the value of his house, currently estimated to be worth R2-million, could depreciate.

“Where we stay is very quiet and that is one of the selling points. But, if there is a train passing just in front of us it will affect the value of our house.”


 * From: http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/articles/article.aspx?ID=ST6A179337**

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