Northern city of Nador to be linked by $250 million railway

The Northeastern city of Nador will be linked for the first time by a railway under a US$ 250 million convention signed, in Nador Tuesday, in presence of Morocco's King Mohammed VI.

The 117 km-long railway will link the city of Taourirt (east) to Nador.

The Hassan II Fund for economic and social development will contribute 900 million Dhs ($100 million) and the government 960 millions to the project's infrastructure. Machinery and equipment will be provided by the railway office (ONCF).

The project is part of the strategy aiming at ensuring a balanced and integrated development of the northeastern region of the Kingdom, according to the Government.

The railway will also link the port of Beni Enzar (on the border with the Spanish enclave of Melillia) to the national railway network. This will constitute a qualitative improvement in the diversification of international exchanges since it will open up the eastern and centre region on the Mediterranean.

The project, in addition to other important ongoing projects, will also contribute to boosting social and economic activities in the north of the country.

The new railway is expected to be operational by the end of 2007.

With this new project the contributions of the Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development in development projects reach 11.5 billion Dhs (1.2 billion dollars).