The transport sector will receive an additional allocation of R10,3-billion over the next three years to improve infrastructure and services, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Wednesday.

Delivering his budget speech at Parliament, he said this would support efforts to improve national and provincial road maintenance, rail signalling and rolling stock, and public transport infrastructure.

The SA National Roads Agency would get an additional R2,7-billion.

Of this amount, R1,8-billion would be set aside for the maintenance of 2 156 km of roads used for hauling coal, and R950-million for maintenance of the national road network.

Gordhan said R1,5-billion had been provided, through the new provincial roads maintenance grant, for provincial road maintenance and weigh bridges.

"This grant totals R22,3-billion over the MTEF," he said.

An additional R2,1-billion had been set aside for the coal haulage network in the provinces.

Maintenance to the coal haulage road networks would be financed from the increased levy on electricity collected from Eskom, said Gordhan.

He said the Passenger Rail Agency of SA had been allocated an additional R1,1-billion to upgrade and replace 16% of Metrorail's signalling infrastructure.

Some R350-million has been set aside for the upgrade and refurbishment of 40 motor coaches and 277 trailers.

Twelve municipalities would receive an additional R2,7-billion through the public transport infrastructure and systems conditional grant.

This money would be used to plan, upgrade and expand the integrated public transport.

"The funding will allow bus rapid transport services to increase peak-hour passenger loads, from the current 30 000 to 110 000 in 2013/14."

Gordhan said consolidated government transport spending would total R66-billion next year, rising to R80-billion by 2013/14.

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