Posted by By Simon Ateba on
Prof. Bamidele Badejo, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, has disclosed that the government of Babatunde Fashola will commission three relief roads in the next two months to reduce traffic in the state.
Prof. Bamidele Badejo, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, has disclosed that the government of Babatunde Fashola will commission three relief roads in the next two months to reduce traffic in the state.
Addressing journalists in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, Bamidele revealed that his Ministry has identified 28 locations that cause traffic gridlock in the state, adding that the relief roads will help create a traffic-free Lagos.
He also revealed that Governor Fashola has given a go-ahead for the implementation of a blueprint for the water transportation system in the state.
The commissioner said that, in the blueprint, the routes in the waters have been designed as well as the directional signs, and terminals provided.
He added that the terminals will incorporate shopping malls, recreational centres and buses, all on the bassis of Public Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement.
He said the water transportation project will be completed next year. He said that the innovation will take thousands of cars off the roads as over 70 percent of the state is accessible by water.
Bamidele also disclosed that most roads in the state were constructed over 35 years ago when traffic was light, but with millions of cars plying the roads everyday, he said, there is need for an alternative solution.
On the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, scheme, Bamidele said that in the last four months alone, the BRT have carried 16 million passengers. He said that the Lagos Buses, Lag Bus, have recently introduced 200 buses, bringing the total to 600 buses.
Bamidele said that more buses are on the way and more routes are also to be created on a PPP arrangement. He also said that the repair of the BRT lane has been awarded to four contractors in the state that will be working at night.
He said many have expressed satisfaction with the BRT, adding that the scheme will keep improving by the day for a better transportation system in the state. Already, he explained, there are 10 seats provided in each bus for the elderly and the disabled.
He also revealed that this is in line with Governor Fashola's philosophy that the elderly and the disabled in the state must be assisted by the state government.