••• Targets 2021 for blue rail line operation

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring sanity on all roads through strict enforcement of traffic laws to achieve seamless vehicular and human traffic movement across the State during the yuletide season and beyond.

The General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olajide Oduyoye, speaking in his office, said that in order to curb the menace of gridlock resulting from activities of Event Centres, all operators and private property owners of such establishments are, henceforth, mandated to notify the management of LASTMA for adequate arrangements on traffic management and parking of their visitors’ vehicles in line with recent pronouncements by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladehinde.

 Oduyoye further averred that the new policy evolved from the traffic congestion experienced on 14th December 2019 along the Lekki-Epe Expressway as a result of blockage of roads by motorists who could not secure parking space at the venues of social gatherings, warning that parking of vehicles along the roadside by guests will no longer be condoned.

Speaking on activities of wine bars, lounges and places of worship without adequate parking spaces within their premises, the LASTMA General Manager urged owners and members of the public to consult LASTMA for strategies to prevent traffic gridlock, maintaining that any of their clients found violating the traffic law will face stiff penalties.

“LASTMA is also fully geared towards decongesting known gridlock areas like Apapa, Mile 12, Mile 2, Yaba, Iganmu and other places during the yuletide period”, Oduyoye added.

He assured that LASTMA will deploy more personnel to manage critical traffic points on Ikorodu Road, Ojodu Berger axis to Toll Gate and Iyana Oworo during the festive season with special focus on traffic around Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki areas.

While affirming that enforcement will be stepped up to apprehend those who obstruct traffic, Oduyoye advised motorists to desist from parking within 30 metres of any major road intersection to ensure the free flow of traffic

Oduyoye urged that “Motorists should also drive with care, drive safely and obey all traffic rules and regulations” at all times.

  Meanwhile, the integrated mass transportation initiative of the Lagos State Government has recorded a huge progress with the successful completion of an elevated sea-crossing track of the Lagos Blue Line Rail Mass Transit project.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, , led members of the State Executive Council to inspect the five-kilometre long Continuous Beam Bridge constructed from Iganmu to Marina, which is part of the fourth phase of the Blue Line Rail project and inaugurate the final phase of the project.
The ceremony also marked the commencement of construction activities on the final phase of the Blue Line rail project, which Governor promised to complete next year.
Sanwo-Olu said the completion of the sea-crossing track indicated his administration’s commitment towards completing the State-funded rail project started in 2009.
He said: “The completion of this project is top priority for our administration, as it is critical to the achievement of our prioritised pillar of traffic management and transportation in our six-point development agenda, known as project THEMES.
“The aim of this rail project is basically to reduce travel time through an effective and efficient intermodal transport system. It is also key to the building of a 21st century economy, which is central to the vision of a Greater Lagos aspiration. We are committed to delivering this project next year and ensuring its operation starts in 2021.”
The construction of the Blue Line rail tracks, Sanwo-Olu noted, was being implemented in strict adherence to the State’s Strategic Transport Master Plan, which prescribes six rail lines and one monorail for the long-term strategic goals of the State.
Apart from the Blue Line, the Governor disclosed that his administration would be starting the construction of the Red Line rail project from Agbado to Marina, pointing out that advertisement had been published in the media to invite investors for the construction of four other rail lines under a Design, Build, Operate, Maintain and Transfer model of Public-Private-Partnership arrangement.
According to the Governor, the advertised rail projects include the 68-kilometre Green Line, 60-kilometre Purple Line, 34-kilometre Yellow Line and 48-kilometre Orange Line.
The Green Line will start from Marina through Victoria Island, Lekki Phases 1 and 2, Ajah, Ogombo, Lekki Airport to Lekki Free Trade Zone, while the Purple Line is expected to start from the Redemption Camp going through Ogba, Iyana Ipaja, Igando and terminating at Ojo.
The Yellow Line will stretch from Otta through Isheri Osun, Ejigbo Mafoluku, Isolo to the national theatre, and the Orange Line will span from Ikeja moving through Mile 12, Ikorodu, Alapadi, Eligana, Isiwu, Imota and terminating at Agbowa.