I thot Lagos also had it's own rail project. Or does it not cover VI / Lekki axis?

KnowAll:

In less than a year of his tenure, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory Sen. Bala Mohammed has shown a deep commitment to three major projects in the Federal Capital. The first is the Abuja Boulevard project, the security-enhancing CCTV project and the Monorail project designed to ease the growing transportation gridlock in the nation’s seat of government.

Why he should be commended for taking the decisive step towards the realisation of the long-delayed Abuja Boulevard project, the business and entertainment hub of the Federal Capital whose benefits are multi-faceted, he also needs to be applauded for his decision to fast-track the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system in Abuja inorder to check the activities of criminals, following the security challenges posed by the bomb blasts of October and December 2010.

With his recent pronouncements, it is obvious that the Abuja Light Rail (ALR) project which it is hoped would provide the long term solution to the capital city’s transportation problems, is set for determined execution afterall. There is no doubt that he attaches priority to the multi-billion-naira project which he has assured that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration is committed to completing on schedule.

Already, the tempo of execution on the project has been intensified considering its importance to the economic turnaround of the entire Federal Capital Territory and the country at large. Under the watch of Senator Bala Mohammed, land acquisition enumeration and compensation of economic trees as well as building structures on the Right Of Way at Idu Depot/Dry inland container port area; Ring road I, Idu, Gwagwa/Dei-Dei, Kagini and about 4 kilometres into Kubwa have been completed while laying of tracks are expected to begin in earnest as rail tracks have started arriving at the Idu depot.

It is reassuring however, that as many as 125,000 concrete sleepers have been produced, which experts say are sufficient for 25 kilometres of double tracks while 120,000 square meters of ballast standard rail track gravel have been produced which is sufficient for 35 kilometres of track right of way.

To underscore its seriousness in tackling the challenges in the transportation sector, the FCT Administration has concluded arrangement to organise Transportation Investors’ Summit to take care of other transportation facilities that are part of the integrated transportation programme of the Federal Capital Territory.

The Abuja Monorail project would be the first of its kind in West Africa. It was developed for mass transportation within the Abuja metropolis and the satellite settlements. It will not only help solve the mass transport problems in the city, it will also create job opportunities.

It is similar in concept to the Port Harcourt Monorail project introduced by the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration in Rivers State, which will run on the Intamin P30 Monorail Train, an electric driven train designed and most suitable for commuter services in cities as seen in some parts of Europe. It is characterised by modern design, spacious cabins and is equipped with large doors for easy access for all passengers particularly those with luggage.

The monorail railway system in Abuja was originally conceived to be executed as a partnership involving the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Intamin Transportaion Ltd and Ponet Nigeria Ltd.

To ensure quick take off of the system, a committee chaired by erstwhile FCT transportation secretary, Mr. Segun Awolowo was set up, with the directors of engineering, Sylvester Ugonabo, Development Control, Yahya Sani, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Kenneth Okafor, co-ordinator, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Centre, Hassan Muhammadu, Managing Director, Abuja Investment Ltd, Dr. Abdul Mukhtar and Director , Urban and Regional Planning as members.

The rail system which will drastically reduce problems of transportation in the Federal Capital Territory, is designed to have stop stations at Katampe, Bwari exit, Kubwa, Dei Dei and Zuba for the convenience of the passengers along Kubwa road, while the Berger to Gwagwa Karmo route would also have similar substations along the routes.

What started as a promise in 2007 by former FCT minister Aliyu Moddibbo followed in 2008 by his successor Adamu Aliero, appears to be gathering steam after-all. Aliero had in 2008 declared that the city’s road traffic problems were about to be solved through the provision of LRT and that the line would be operational by 2013. The ex-minister had promised after the $US840 billion contract was awarded, that the main metro station is to be located around the national stadium, while other sub stations would be in Kubwa and Gwagwalada.

Two years down the road, the project is now about 20 per cent completed, with over 90 per cent of detailed engineering design including aerial and ground control survey, bridges and culverts completed, with an assurance that Lots I & III of the project would surely be achieved on or before 2013 as envisaged in the work plan.

Again, it will not be out of place to commend the Bala Mohammed administration for once again taking a bold step to open up an issue many were already writing off as an abandoned project. Considering its strategic importance in the socio-economic well being of the FCT, the rail project can be regarded as priority. One hopes its realization will be pursued with the same zeal that he has revived it.

The Blue Line will run 27km from Okokomaiko to Marina, one of the most densely travelled corridors in Lagos. The rail infrastructure is being developed in conjunction with the Badagry Expressway project, a proposed toll road running from Lagos to Badagry. The Blue Line will run on an exclusive 15 metre right of way in the middle of the expressway.

In total there will be thirteen stations, three which will be shared with the Red Line system. The stations will be located above the tracks, with large pedestrian walkways crossing the expressway. Large, concrete barriers will be placed between the rail lines and the expressway to ensure no external factors will disrupt service. The Blue Line system will require the construction of two bridges. The larger of the two, to be shared with the Red Line, will connect the mainland with the island. The second bridge will be across the river at Mile 2.

The fixed assets, including construction of the alignment, bridges, and stations, will be wholly funded by the Lagos State Government. A concessionaire is currently being sought to procure and finance rolling stock and depot facilities, as well as provide operations and maintenance over a 25 year period. The concessionaire will be compensated through passenger revenues as well as revenues earned from retail activities within stations.

For more comprehensive information on the Blue Line project, please view the Project Briefing Document.

The Red Line rail system is being developed on North-South axis through some of the most densely populated areas in Lagos. Beginning on the island, the Red Line will run north to Agbado through a total of 13 stations. From the Marina to Iddo stations, the Red Line will share the alignment with the Blue Line. The shared infrastructure in these portions will be constructed as part of the Red Line project. From Agbado to Iddo, the Red Line with utilize the existing Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) corridor.

For more information, please download the Red Line Project Briefing.

All that is needed in Lagos is a ferry system with good safety precautions in palce.

KnowAll:

see information regarding Abuja Bolulevard, looks like the gist from this article some Americans from Dallas are ready to invest.


http://allafrica.com/stories/201011160727.html

The proposed Abuja Town Centre, popularly known as the Abuja Boulevard project, received a boost at the weekend with the Dallas, Texas, United States-based Balkan Center Development Group of Companies offering to invest a staggering $2.6 billion to actualize the project covering investment in real estate, power generation, and internal infrastructure amongst others.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, had, after watching a technical presentation by the company last week, constituted a high-powered committee to study and make recommendations on its proposal for the project based on the terms of reference such as an appraisal of the site proposed for the project and ascertaining the suitability and adequacy or otherwise of the site.
The seven-man committee is headed by the FCT Minister of State, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (retired). Other members are the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nathaniel Biodun Olorunfemi, the Acting Executive Secretary of Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA), Alhaji Kabiru Ado Husaini, the consultant to the FCT Administration on the town centre project and former Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Architect Victor Attah.
Also included are the Directors of Urban and Regional Planning; Land; Engineering Services and Economic Affairs of the FCTA.
Mohammed stated that all obstacles would be removed by the FCTA to make way for a smooth take-off and success of the project.
He directed the entire management and staff of the FCTA to hold the company seriously. Further, he promised to carefully study the project design and see how it could conveniently fit into the urban and regional design of Abuja city as contained in its master plan.
Speaking during the visit to the FCT, the President of the Balkan Group, Mr. Gene Philips, stated that he intends to bring world class real estate and infrastructural development to Nigeria, adding that Abuja and other major cities in Nigeria have great potential to be counted among the top class cities in the world in terms of real estate and infrastructure.
Philips, a Dallas-based billionaire gave the estimated time frame for the completion of the project as six years.
According to him, once the land is obtained, it would take the company six months to complete the engineering design and another three months for the take off actual physical construction at the site. After that stage, the project will be executed in three phases spreading over a cumulative period of six years
Also speaking during the visit, Dallas-based Attorney Mr. Jude Menes who is the Chief Legal Counsel of Balkan Center Development Company Limited said he is very excited about the projects slated by his company for Abuja. He indicated that the company anticipates beginning construction on the $2.6billion Abuja Town Centre (Boulevard) project in January 2011.
Philips explained that multi-layer underground car parking facilities would be built at the centre to accommodate the large number of vehicles that would be accessing the centre, adding that the project when completed would stand out as a global edifice. He assured that the project would be a huge success and the type that will befit Abuja's projected status as a world class capital city.
He said that the Balkan Center Development Group plans to build downtown facilities in the FCT, possibly within the Central Business District within estimated a land space of about 31 hectares, including 5,000 housing units.
According to him, the Boulevard which was made popular by Dr. Aliyu Modibbo would be the business and entertainment hub of the Abuja Federal Capital City when completed.
The company has projected that upon take-off; the project is expected to employ thousands of Nigerian professionals, as well as upwards of 10,000 semi-professional and unskilled workers. When completed it is estimated that the economic impact of the project will run in trillions of dollars and last to serve future generations of Nigerians

I've gone through the article. it is not that inspiring. Aliyu Modibo was more favourably disposed to the Boulevard Project. That was why he cried openly when he received his sack Letter from Mr President. Media People blamed him then that it was because he will be jobless after relinquishing the plumb office

I don't see a rail line happening on the Lekki Axis in the next 30 years.

The Lekki Concession Company (LCC) and other investors in the lekki toll project MUST recoup their investments with profit before any alternative is provided for commuters

KnowAll:

Whilst Rotimi Amechi and the authorities in Abuja are going about their mono-rail projects steadily without hindrance, it appears Messers Fashola is more interested in building a phantom airport at Lekki, a project 95% of his constituents would never use or ever bother to use in their life time.

Why Can’t Fashola think of a train link between Ajah- Lekki and VI. He should implement a policy where a congestion charge would be applicable to all cars that drives into VI thereby encouraging thousands of commuters to use the train. I think that should be the way forward as per transportation on the Island.

Mr. Knowall can you tell us more about the "forensic" way they should have looked at it? Sounds new to me

You feel like critisizing for critisizing sake em? I thought you knew all. this time you displayed a dismal performance and gallivanting ignorance

KnowAll:



Thank you sir,

KnowAll:


The Boulevard is on hold at the moment, the number one priority in Abuja are as follows


1. CCTV - after the bombings [size=14pt]cctv cameras installed in different parts of the city[/size] has assumed priority number one.

2. The Mono –Rail is the 2nd priority

3. The Boulevard if private finance is forth-coming