By Olumide
T. Agunbiade and Olalekan
Paul
WITH the capacity to
employ over 300, 000 workers, cover a distance of 57 kilometers and a
construction cost of about N500 billion (3 billion USD), the Lagos Light Rail
Project is arguably one of the biggest on-going projects in Africa.
The Light Rail is a bold statement by the state
government in its drive towards achieving a Mega City status for Lagos state.
Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub accounts for about 65% of industry in the country
and contributes more than 70% of the nation’s economic output.
The light rail, which has its Blue Line near
completion, will transport 40, 000 commuters to and from work daily. The Blue
Line will have 13 stations and end- to-end journey will take only 35 minutes
approximately-a sharp contrast to the long hours it currently takes by road
coupled with the traffic nightmare.
According to CPCS Transcom, an infrastructure development consulting firm, and
transaction adviser to the Lagos State Government for the Blue Line project,
‘‘the infrastructure will consist of 27km of double track, 13 passengers
stations, and a 1250-metre 4-track bridge spanning the lagoon and connecting Lagos Island to the
mainland. The Blue Line will be the first of 7 light rail transit that will
eventually comprise the Lagos Urban Rail network.’’
On completion of the Blue Line, construction of
the Red line will commence. It will run from Marina to Agbado
in Ogun
State. It is expected that the line will share the
existing 30 metres wide right-of-way with the Nigerian Railway Corporation
(NRC) line.
