Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says the Lagos Blue line rail will be completed in the first quarter of next year, maintaining that the project is almost completed.
The governor made the comment on Sunday while addressing journalists at the Marina Train Station after inspection of works on the Blue Line rail project and stations at the National Theatre Iganmu, Orile, Suru Alaba, Mile 2, and Marina axis of the state.
“This is the first time I am taking you on the blue line to see where we are. The first phase of the Blue line rail project starts from Mile 2 and terminates at Marina. Marina Station is an elevated station and it stretches out to outer Marina and terminates where the Governor’s residence is. At the end of the station, you could see that the track is broken into two bridges. The backtrack is for parking,” the governor was quoted as saying in a statement signed by his press secretary, Gboyega Akosile.
“We are happy that the contractors are working seven days a week. The major aspect apart from the Marina Station is a sea crossing from Eko Bridge to join the outer Marina. They would finish it in about three months. And by the time we will be coming back in July, the concrete construction should have been completed.”
According to the governor, who inspected the project alongside some members of his cabinet, officials of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and contractors handling the project, said the blue line rail would run on electric tracks with Electric Motor Vehicle (EMV). He, thus, asked Lagosians to keep off the train lines and avoid walking on them.
He said the Lagos State government will also acquire two sets of four train coaches from China between September and October. Governor Sanwo-Olu assured that they would be adequate security at every train station and platform with the use of CCTV.
The governor says no going back on the deadline for the project completion.
The governor also condemned the level of vandalism along the rail corridors and warned perpetrators to desist from such evil acts. The government, he said, would go after companies that buy vandalised rail tracks infrastructure. Sanwo-Olu said the culprits will be traced and prosecuted.