Ayodele Olalere
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat and stakeholders on Wednesday celebrated the completion of the Phase 1 of Lagos Blue Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) scheme.
The Blue Line runs from Marina-Mile 2 and it’s a 27 km rail line.
The completion of the Blue Line was marked amidst excitement and fanfare as the governor was accompanied by his deputy, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, many other prominent Lagosians, and stakeholders numbering almost 300 boarded the train to test ran it’s operation from the National Theatre Station in Iganmu to Marina. and back to Iganmu.
The elated governor , in his speech said the completion of the first phase was a promise kept by his admi, saying Lagosians will benefit more from his administration.
He, however, said the official opening will be in January 2023 by President Muhammadu Buhari when the second phase covering Mile 2 to Okokomaiko will commence.
The Blue Rail Mass Transit which starts from Marina will run through major bus stops such Iganmu, Marina, Alaba and Okokomaiko, Orile, Festac, Mile 2 and others.
The five stations have been completed, with 13km of the rail tracks laid in the first phase. This first phase will transport 250,000 passengers daily and, when completed, the entire 27 km will transport about 500,000 passengers daily. Each train comprises four coaches and each coach can take up to 180 passengers conveniently.
Governor Sanwo-Olu further said the train is a part of an integrated transport system enunciated in the Traffic Management and Transportation pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda of his administration.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo described the project as a manifestation of the ‘audacious mind and courage of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and members of the State Executive Council’.
She said the Blue Line is one of the six rail lines articulated in the Lagos State Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP)
“The rail system would provide thousands of direct and indirect jobs for our youths as well as training to equip them to work in the rail industry,” she said.