Sanwo-Olu Inaugurates Rail Mass Transit Scheme

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has inaugurated the rail mass transit scheme, also known as the Red Line, in Ikeja.

Cheques were also presented to persons whose properties were affected by the project.

Sanwo-Olu said about 263 property owners and tenants were compensated.

The 37km standard gauge line, with 12 proposed stations, would share tracks with the Lagos-Ibadan railway modernisation project.

It is divided into two phases with phase one covering Oyingbo to Agbado with nine stations.

Sanwo-Olu said: “Three of the stations will be built with the Lagos/ Ibadan Railway Modernisation Projects by the Federal Government at Agbado, Agege and Ebute Metta Junction. The remaining six would be built as independent stations at Iju, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin Yaba and Oyingbo.

“Phase two, which would be mostly elevated, would have stations at Iddo and Ebute-Ero, before terminating at Marina where a huge interchange is planned to manage commuters on the Red, Green and Blue Rail lines, BRT buses and those using the waterways.

“Some of the unique characteristics of the Red Line is its integration with the Ikeja Bus Terminal, Oshodi – Abule-Egba Bus Rapid Transit, the future Orange Line, which goes from Ikeja to Agbowa, and the General Aviation Terminal One of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport through a skywalk.

“This particular station, which has been appropriately named Ikeja Train Centre, also has facilities for Park and Ride and commercial spaces.

“Also, the Oshodi Train Station will integrate with the Oshodi Bus Terminal and provide for adequate park and ride services and commercial spaces.

“Another unique feature of the Red Line is that all the stations have elevated concourses with either at grade island or side platforms for easy boarding and alighting of passengers.

“The Red Line also integrates with our Bus Terminals at Oyingbo, Yaba, Oshodi, Ikeja and Iju, giving modal options to our people in their daily commute, either for business or leisure. We project that the Red Line would move its first passenger in the fourth quarter of 2022.”

“We are also simultaneously working on bringing the first phase of our Blue Line to passenger operation. We project that the Blue line would be in operation by the fourth quarter of 2022.

Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) Abimbola Akinajo said the groundbreaking ceremony showed Governor Sanwo-Olu’s readiness to tackle frontally the transportation challenges in the state.

-NATION