Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Dr Ismail Vadi on Tuesday announced the appointment of a consortium of transaction advisers to conduct the feasibility study (FS) for the proposed extensions to the Gautrain rail system.

The SMEC Consortium comprised SMEC South Africa, DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr and Deloitte – consultants with proficiencies in public–private partnership (PPP) procurement processes; rail design and planning; socioeconomic impact studies; and legal and financial planning.

The consultants have worked together on PPP and infrastructure projects and have developed methodologies and insights into the PPP process and rail feasibility studies that would be used during this FS.

“The purpose of the FS is to inform the decision to proceed with the Gautrain extensions and the preferred routes that should be developed. This should be based on a number of benefits such as the transformational impact on the Gauteng economy; the modernisation of public transport; passenger access and mobility; improved spatial development; environmental impact; and other benefits such as job creation and poverty alleviation,” said Vadi.

The study would allow the Gautrain Management Agency to weigh up the benefits against the costs in an informed way, he noted.

The proposed rapid rail extensions to the Gautrain network follow from the recently completed Gauteng 25-Year Integrated Transport Master Plan (ITMP25), which provided a long-term plan that would ensure integration of transport with spatial patterns, as well as the integration between various transport modes to move people in an efficient matter.

Vadi said the ITMP25 identified rail as an essential component and backbone for an integrated and efficient public transport system in Gauteng.

He emphasised that the proposed extensions form part of an integrated government commitment to improve the standard of living of the citizens in and around the Gauteng city-region through infrastructure development.

Once the FS was completed in the latter part of 2015, funding models would be presented to the Provincial and National Treasuries for budgetary consideration.