State-owned property managers Intersite Property Management Services (Intersite) is to spend a further R8,9-million on the second phase of the upgrade of Mabopane Station.

The upgrade highlights the successful working relationship forged between Intersite and national, provincial and local government in the redevelopment of a reportedly previously disadvantaged and neglected area, in Tshwane.

The first of the second phase projects is the R2,5-million construction of new access stairs on the eastern side of the station and the widening of the existing stairs on the western side.

Construction is expected to be completed in August 2004.

In the meantime, R140 000 is to be spent on the installation of electric sleeves that will house the electric cabling for the both the food court and market stalls.

Work is to start on a R1,8-million two-way dedicated taxi road, to help improve taxi flow and provide greater safety for commuters and taxi operators alike and construction is expected to be completed by August 2004.

Other projects identified include the R268 000 installation of a standby generator to power emergency lights during power supply interruption; the R2,2-million installation of fire detection and protection equipment; the R1,8-million improved cash-in-transit facilities at the Metrorail ticket offices and a further R140 000 to refurbish existing ablution blocks.

Tshwane Council is also building a new taxi rank on the north-west side, which is funded by the City of Tshwane, andis envisaged that the project will start in February 2004 and be completed by mid year.

Project cost for earthworks alone is approximately R2,8-million.

Already, several projects on the station concourse have been completed.

On the north-west side security, maintenance and cleaning projects have been undertaken and overall Station security is also being improved.

To this end, Intersite said it has been working closely with private security companies, the Metro Police and the South African Police.

A further R2.5-million has been spent on the upgrade of the stormwater, water reticulation and sewerage systems which, over the years, have become unable to cope with the ever-increasing demands placed on them.

R2,3-million has been spent on the upgrade and refurbishment of the Metrorail ticket offices which were vandalised during recent commuter unrest as a result of delays in the train service.

The ticket offices will be back in operation by the end of February 2004.

Mabopane Station, or the Mabopane Rietgat Transportation Interchange, is the third busiest interchange in South Africa, with a large railway facility and multiple taxi and bus ranks, but has for many years operated in substandard and unhygienic conditions.

Two years ago, Intersite and the City of Tshwane started with a master plan to address the problems at the station, with an identified budget of around R60-million.