The Chinese construction company responsible for building Kenya's modern railway has confirmed that the government has given it the green light to undertake feasibility studies to expand infrastructure in the country's capital.

The expansion would see the Standard Gauge Railway SGR link Jomo Kenyatta International Airport JKIA to downtown Nairobi, significantly easing traffic delays that characterize the road network.

A local newspaper reported that the government has awarded the deal to China Road and Bridge Corporation.

Atanas Maina, managing director of Kenya Railways, was quoted as saying the feasibility studies and designs will determine the viability of the project.

"The line will provide service for people leaving Syokimau train terminus (about 45 minutes from downtown) into the city and people coming from the city going to JKIA or Syokimau train terminus," the managing director is quoted as saying.

In May, the president took a ride on the $4.8 billion SGR, known as Madaraka Express, that links Nairobi to the port city of Mombasa.

The Chinese firm is working on a 120km route from the capital city to Naivasha, a neighboring town.

It is billed as a game changer for the regional economy as the infrastructure will significantly reduce time spent on the road between the two cities and high road maintenance costs. The route is later expected to extend to Uganda and Rwanda. It is also expected to make the region competitive by reducing the cost of doing business.

Transporting a 20-ton container from Mombasa to Nairobi by road costs $1,300 (1,234 Euros; ￡1,047), while a similar container from Mombasa to Kampala costs $3,400. The cost is $6,500 to Kigali. The Kenyan port is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to deepen global trade relations.

Lucymorangi@chinadaily.com.cn