By Victor Ayeni
THE Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described the completed 250, 000-passenger Blue Rail train project as a milestone that came through several reforms in the state’s transportation sector, stating that the first-phase of the project will be operational in January.
The governor stated this on Wednesday during the test-running of the mono-rail and events to mark the completion of the first phase of Lagos rail mass transit held at the National Theatre Blue Line Station, Iganmu, Lagos.
Also, the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, explained that the train passengers will use the state’s unified electronic payment system known as cowry card currently being used for Bus Rapid Transit and regulated ferry services.
She said, “In our projection, we reckon that this phase of the rail project would move no less than 250,000 passengers daily, while the entire line when completed would move more than 500,000 passengers.
“Construction of the Blue Line has been one of the most challenging projects undertaken by Lagos government, given many hitches that had to be overcome. To get to the point of completion, we have had disturbances and delays in the relocation of submarine cables, gas pipelines, and the removal of shipwrecks. This made the construction of the submarine pillar extremely difficult.”
