Tunde Sholanke
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday assured residents of the state that the ongoing construction around the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT), Red Line Project would become reality before the end of his first tenure in office.
He told journalists shortly after the inspection tour of the project took him to Yaba and Ebute Meta axis of the state, where train stations and vehicular bridges overpass were sited.
He said that the Ebute Metta vehicular bridge overpass was 75 to 80 percent completed while that of Yaba was 95 percent completed,
even as he assured that the state government is working with all necessary stakeholders, most especially the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
He said the two train stations in the axis were at various advanced stages of completion and expressed satisfaction with the progress and level of works on the Red Line Rail Project and on the stretch of Ebute- Meta to Agbado.
He noted that when the project is completed, the unfortunate train accident, which claimed lives at the PWD rail crossing could be averted considering the design of the ongoing modern Red Line Project.
He said:”You have seen the train stations, especially the Yaba and Oyingbo train stations. We started at Yaba and we also have a vehicular bridge overpass. With the train station, we believe we are about 75 to 80 percent complete and with the bridge, it’s about 90 to 95 per cent but the adjoining road to Yaba would be cleaned up.
“We are satisfied with the level of construction so far. You can also see that there are also lots of construction there. You can see a lot of traders along the rail track. What we came here to do is a lot of advocacy that the track will be fully walled off when operation begins.
“We believe, we are still on track, and it will be ready before the end of our first term in office, depending on when we want to commission it. We will just be doing a lot of test- running because this rail track will be working with the Nigerian Railway Corporation from Ebute Metta to Ibadan. So, we need to harmonize our own rail infrastructure.”