Pre- engineering work for the kshs 5.8 billion likoni cable cars express are complete, paving way for the construction. The construction of the multi-billion shilling cable car is set to begin before August according to Kenya Ferry Services MD Bakari Gowa.Mr. Gowa said engineers are awaiting a nod from the cabinet to begin work on the project.

“When we get the green light, the investor will sign a financial agreement with the project handlers” Mr.Gowa told the Nation yesterday.Trapos is the company sponsoring the project. It signed a concession agreement with Kenya Ferry Services in December 2017.According to the agreement, the project will be handled by the Likoni Cable Cars Express Ltd for 25 years.

Mr.Gowa said pre-engineering works involved the survey of the sites where the landing stations and masts would be built.The landing station will be built over the road. The KFS chief said the land dispute, which also contributed to the delay of the project, has been resolved.

“We are in the process of getting a title deed for the land where the two major masts will be built. The masts and the landing stations are the main installations in this project”, Mr. Gowa added. KFS and the Kenya National Highways Authority were involved in a dispute over land on the mainland side of the Likoni channel. The ministry of Transport and infrastructure intervened to end the row. The construction will be done by the C&C Company, he said.

The contractor will be in charge of the infrastructure, which includes two 90-metre masts and two landing stations.C&C will work with the Doppelmayr Group, which will be in charge of the technological part of the project. It is expected to transfer the technology and operate the system with Likoni Cable Express Ltd. The project is being undertaken under the 2012 Public-Private Partnership Act.

According to the government officials, its completion will take two years. It is expected to generate hundreds of jobs, during the construction period and after completion. The iconic project has been lauded by the stakeholders in the hospitality industry who say it will be the critical driver of tourism in the South Coast. The cable express car is expected to be a state-of-the-art gondola system connecting either side of the channel. The cars will work for seven days of the week, crossing the channel in less than three minutes.