The 27 kilometre light metro rail line, christened Blue Line, will run from Okokomaiko in the west of Lagos to CMS in Central Lagos and is expected to provide alternative transportation for thousands of commuters moving from the western axis of the city to the city centre everyday.
Already, substantial work has begun on the project between the National Theatre in Iganmu and Mile 2.
According to a recent 2011 monthly progress report on the project, all the columns for the concourse at the Lagos end of the rail line have been completely cast to the Alaba station’s elevated level with the concretes currently being cast while the superstructure work on the station is still in progress.
The rail project, according to the report, will increase economic activities along the corridor, reduce traffic congestion and vehicular emission since owners would be encouraged to drop their vehicles and use public transport.
“Aside creating employment, both directly and indirectly, the project will help to build a crop of expertise in the construction of this magnitude, thus affording Nigerians the opportunity to be part of historical moments,” the report said.
Currently, even at its construction stage, over 4,000 workers are engaged at various skills level on the light rail project while over 8,000 Nigerians will be engaged to work on the system when it takes off. For now, thousands are also engaged in a secondary economy supplying raw material inputs, food and refreshments to those working at the sites.
Governor Fashola, who said during the campaigns that the inspection would take place once the elections were over, is being accompanied on the inspection tour by the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, his Science and Technology counterpart, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Special Adviser for Works, Engineer Ganiyu Johnson, the Managing Director of the Metropolitan Area and Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the Director General of the Public Private Partnership Office (PPPO), Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi.
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