Posted by SULE BELLO on January 20, 2010 at 10:13pm
Lagos Begins N170bn Rail ProjectBy Gboyega Akinsanmi, 01.21.2010Add To FavoritesPrint This ArticlePost CommentLagos state government said the design of the long-awaited mass transit rail project has been completed, thus paving way for the construction of the project with immediate effect.It added that both the design and construction of the rail project would gulp the sum of $1.12 billion (equivalent of N170 billion), stating that it would take 36 months to complete the construction.While inspecting facilities to kick-start the rail project yesterday in the premise of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) in Ebute-Meta, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) said Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) has set the stage to commence the construction phase of the project.Speaking with journalists at the site, the governor said the first phase “will include the construction of the Blue Line which is expected to run a total distance of 27,552 kilometres from Okokomaiko to Marina and would be served by the stations.”He said: “The project is expected to be delivered on August 2012 and provide jobs for about 4,000 Nigerians during the construction phase alone.” He expressed optimism that the contractors would deliver within the stipulated period.“The project when completed would go a long way to make transportation faster, convenient and more efficient. It is a winner for Nigeria and Lagos State. It will improve the quality of life in our nation and help transport good and services.Nigerians working in London in the under ground rail system have spoke to me that want to come back home and run an efficient rail system,” the governor explained.Speaking on the Red Line rail construction, the governor explained that that the state government “is waiting the approval of the Federal Government to use its corridor to link Iddo through Agbado and Ijoko in Ogun State.“We are waiting for the federal government to give us the go ahead to use their corridor; we have a Memorandum of Understanding with them and we just need them to fast track a few things for us so that we can use that corridor,” he stated.The Iddo/Oyingbo way under construction is nearing completion. On completion, it will enable an extension of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) from Mile 12 straight to Iddo. We would continue to expand and when the Lagos Badagry is completed, there would also be a BRT service in that route”, he added.Project Manager, CCECC, Mr. Shi Stone who conducted the governor round the facilities assured that they were ready to begin construction, adding that they have acquired all necessary equipments to kick start the construction process.The project is part of the World Bank assisted projects in the state expected to run at 100km/h, has a main length of 28km, a viaduct length of 7.75km, and a 3.047 kilometre long coastal elevated track and a 610 metre-long sea crossing bridge
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