Lagos announces completion of first phase of Blue Rail LineThe Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has announced the completion of the first phase (Marina to Mile 2) of Lagos Rail Mass Transit also known as the Blue Line Rail.
A statement signed by the Consultant, Corporate Communication of LAMATA, Mr Kolawole Ojelabi, said the completion of the infrastructure was in fulfilment of the promise made by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, that the project would be completed in the last quarter of 2022, ahead of the commencement of passenger operations in the first quarter of 2023.
He explained that the LRMT Blue Line is one of the six rail lines and monorail prescribed for Lagos in the state’s Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP).
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According to him, the LRMT Blue Line is a 27-kilometre rail system from Marina to Okokomaiko.
Construction has been divided into phases for ease of implementation and is expected to move more than 500,000 passengers when the entire line is completed.
He stated, “Governor Sanwo-Olu had, while campaigning for the office of Governor, promised to complete the infrastructure for the first phase of the LRMT Blue Line.
“The first phase is a 13-kilometre stretch from Marina to Mile 2 and has five stations at Mile 2, Suru-Alaba, Orile Iganmu, National Theatre and Marina. It is expected to move about 200,000 passengers daily,” he added.
Ojelabi said the rail system would be powered by electricity from an independent power plant to be purposely built for its operation.
Managing Director of LAMATA, Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, an engineer, said the completion of the infrastructure for the first phase of the LRMT Blue Line was a testimonial of the importance of public transportation to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES agenda.