Accra, June 9, GNA - Ghana Railways Development Authority (GRDA), mandated to promote the railway sector, is considering the introduction o f railways development levy to help boost rail services in the country. This is due to lack of funds to develop the rail sector thereby rendering most rail lines in the country obsolete. This was announced by Mr. Dan Markin, Board Chairman of the Authorit y, during an inspection tour of rail lines from Accra to Tema, currently und er rehabilitation. He said the Board was working out modalities of the levy and would b e submitted to Cabinet for approval. Mr. Markin pledged the Board's commitment to promote the rail sector to meet international standards and said that the use of metal slippers woul d be replaced with wooden ones as prescribed internationally. "We also have plans of renovating all rail lines in Takoradi, Tarkwa,

Kumasi, Ejisu and the rest in the country to provide better services for commuters," he said.

Mr Markin said that the rail sector played an important role by link ing many sectors of the economy. He expressed satisfaction about the construction of rail lines from Asaprochona near Adenta to Tema and urged the contractors to continue wit h the good work. Mr. Markin said that abandoned coaches would be rehabilitated in August, this year by the Authority while new coaches purchased by the NPP

Government would be utilised. He appealed to encroachers on lands belonging to Ghana Railways Corporation to vacate because management would soon embark on a demolitio n exercise.