Maputo, May 25, 2026 (Lusa) - The Mozambican government is planning two new railway branches in Maputo, totalling over 22 kilometres, according to a project design tender, to which Lusa gained access on Monday.
The tender involves hiring consultancy services to draft the executive project alongside an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the construction of the new branches in Maputo and Matola, the country’s two largest cities.
Launched by the transport and logistics ministry and the Maputo Metropolitan Transport Agency (AMT), the tender calls for expressions of interest to be submitted by 29 June, to strengthen the railway network, promote rail transport and encourage a modal shift towards a more efficient, safe, and sustainable solution.
The tender notice explained that to achieve these goals, the construction of two new railway lines in the Maputo Metropolitan Area is planned, specifically between the Luís Cabral neighbourhood and the National Independence Stadium in Machava, spanning 8.3 kilometres, and between Albasine and the Zimpeto National Stadium, with a length of 14 kilometres.
Lusa previously reported that the Mozambican government also intends to build an Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system in Maputo through a public-private partnership, featuring a 30-kilometre line between the capital and Boane.
The transport and logistics ministry and the AMT published this measure in a notice to select a technical assistance firm to support the hiring of the entity that will design and operate the ART (Autonomous Rapid Transit) system.
The selected company will be required to present a detailed design of the project, supply the rolling stock and technological systems, build the infrastructure, implement the ART system (a hybrid urban public transport solution similar to a light rail system, combining train and articulated bus) and manage initial operations before progressively transferring control to the government.
The tender notice, which allows expressions of interest until 3 June, specifies that Line 2 of this network will connect Maputo to Matola, before extending to Boane across a distance of approximately 30 kilometres.
On 15 May, the president of Mozambique acknowledged the major challenges facing urban mobility in Maputo, pledging efforts to build the light rail system.
“With regard to urban mobility in the city of Maputo, we delivered around 200 vehicles (...) last Monday, but we are aware that this is not enough."
"There are still major challenges regarding urban mobility,” said Daniel Chapo.
He added that the government was now working extremely hard to ensure that work on the light rail system begins soon, as part of the integrated urban mobility programme for the capital, which also provides for complementary solutions using Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and other systems.
"We are aware that [with] the 'machimbombos' [buses], BRT, and the light rail system, we can consider urban mobility in Maputo resolved," he said.
On 11 May, he announced that Mozambique will launch a National Vehicular Gas Massification Programme in 2026, with the delivery of over 190 new gas-powered buses, thereby ensuring that this resource changes people’s lives.
"All these buses run on natural gas to keep costs down."
"This means that Mozambique is, in an increasingly tangible way, beginning to transform its own natural resources into solutions to reduce the cost of living for its people," he said.
The handover involved 190 gas-powered buses that will serve 2.8 million residents of Maputo, including 40 buses to bolster school transport.
PVJ/MYAL // ADB.
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