The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, flagged off the Oshodi-Abule Egba Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, Corridor.
The Oshodi-Abule Egba corridor is a major link for residents who commute in and out of Alimosho, Egbeda, Ijaiye, Iyana Ipaja and Oshodi.
Speaking during the flag-off, the Governor called on the residents to take full responsibility for the infrastructure in the interest of the public.
The Governor also unveiled 560 high and medium capacity buses that will be plying the route in the pilot phase of the scheme.
Sanwo-Olu, during the inauguration on Tuesday, described the event as ‘a major milestone’ in his administration’s reform agenda in the transport system.
Addressing the public and media at a brief ceremony to kick off the corridor, held at Dopemu, along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Sanwo-Olu, expressed satisfaction at the eventual completion and launch of the corridor, blaming the delay of the take-off, which was originally slated for May 29, 2020, to the outbreak of coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic.
He said the transportation asset would create a new travel experience for residents, stressing that the project was designed to improve the journey and scale up productivity and life expectancy in the state.
“I am also delighted to inform you of our efforts to secure the release of about 550 high and medium capacity buses which had been in the bonded warehouse to increase the stock of regulated buses in our state.
“We will be deploying 100,000 free tickets (cards) to commuters who turn up at the bus station.”
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“This project is very significant because of its immense benefits to Lagosians in the different communities.
“This new BRT corridor will bring great relief to commuters who will use this facility daily. Travel time, which is estimated at an average of two hours during peak periods, will be significantly reduced to an average of about 30 minutes.”
In his remarks, the Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, Engr. Abimbola Akinajo explained that the “BRT project is Median Running BRT infrastructure with passing lanes at the bus station locations.
“The BRT lanes have a width of 3.5m minimum on each direction, all rigid pavement, and provision of reinforced concrete pavement and lay byes at Bus Station locations. There are 14 new BRT stations and the entire BRT lanes are segregated with barriers.
It is expected that the BRT corridor will bring relief to at least 60,000 commuters as travel time will be reduced by 75 per cent.
