Nairobi County Approves First Underground Rail Line Beneath CBD
Nairobi County has officially approved the construction of an underground railway line connecting the Central Business District to Eastlands. The project aims to reduce traffic congestion and lower transportation costs for city commuters.
Why it matters
This infrastructure project represents a significant shift in urban planning for Nairobi, potentially serving as a model for mass transit solutions in rapidly growing African cities.
A train at the Nairobi Central Railway Station, Nairobi, October 18, 2024. Photo KR --> Nairobi County has approved plans for the first underground railway line beneath the Central Business District (CBD) to Eastlands as part of efforts to transform the city’s public transport system.
The approval was made during the 90th County Executive Committee meeting chaired by Governor Johnson Sakaja, which endorsed the implementation framework for the first phase of the Nairobi Metropolitan Mass Rapid Transit System (NMRTS).
The first phase will include an underground rail core through the CBD and the Eastlands Line, connecting key commuter routes in the city.
“By integrating an underground CBD core with high-capacity links to Eastlands, we will unlock Nairobi’s economic potential, lower the cost of transport and build a cleaner, greener and world-class city,” Sakaja said on Wednesday, July 22.
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