Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Wednesday, gave the contractor in charge of the multimillion-dollar Red Rail Line project the directive to complete the project by December 2023.
This is as the Governor revealed that the opening of the Yaba and Ikeja-Along Flyovers, a project component of the Red Rail Line, will take place in October 2023.
He also gave traders along the Agege train line a two-day deadline to vacate their spaces or be compelled to do so as the government would no longer condone lawlessness.
Accompanied by his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, the governor made the remarks on Wednesday, when they led some members of the State Executive Council on an inspection tour of infrastructure components of the ongoing construction of Red Rail Line projects across stations.
While the red rail line has eight major stations – Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Mushin, Yaba, Ebute Metta and Iddo/Oyingbo, the trains will use the tracks built by the Federal Government.
It will take a minimum of 1,000 passengers per ride when in full operation.
The first port of call of the project tour which lasted over six hours, was the Lateef Jakande Station, located at Agbado area, within Lagos-Ogun States boundary.
According to the Governor, more bridges will be built in conjunction with the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC.
Sanwo-Olu who reiterated that “Government is on track to deliver the project before the end of the year,” disclosed that Phase 2 of the Blue Line has been awarded, and hopefully would be completed faster than the first phase, Marina- Mile-2 route.
“We have seen the state of infrastructure on our Red Rail Line corridor, and we are impressed.
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“We are also on track to deliver the project before the end of the year. However, there is still work to be done, especially clearing of illegal structures around the tracks and general clean up of the axis.
“Red line is also on track and you see that a lot of citizens are excited that they are waiting for us to be able to commission it, but we cannot take any safety measure for granted everything must be ready and ready to go and I’s must be dotted and T’s must be crossed and that’s why I have taken time to come out today again and give all the contractors marching orders to push forward and go and start cleaning up, and doing completion.”
“While some of the bridges are completed, some are about 98 per cent ready, and we will start opening them to vehicular movement from October before the train starts work officially.
“We will also step up security enforcement to prevent intruders from accessing the railway corridor. We have spoken to traders and other illegal occupants to vacate because we have to ensure security of passengers.
“Change is an attitude and a way of life; people cannot remain on the tracks. We might also consider erecting concrete barricades as a security measure.
“We also want passengers to have a total lifestyle experience within the train stations, that is why they are large enough to accommodate a variety of ventures.
“The Ikeja station is the largest in Africa and even Europe because we want it to be a hub of mega businesses.
“Passengers can have a total lifestyle experience connecting the train ride to the Bus Rapid Transit ride as the red line is also accessible with the cowry card.”
Sanwo-Olu, also urged passengers taking the Blue Line to exercise patience while boarding, appealing to them to be orderly and allow passengers to disembark before boarding as that is the normal procedure.
The governor, during the assessment tour, assured the mammoth crowd who thronged various stations, particularly at Agbado Station, of his administration’s determination to make the project which is at over 95 percent completion, a reality as scheduled.
