FCTA PERFORMS GROUND BREAKING FOR RAIL STATIONS SOON Preparatory to the completion and commissioning of the Abuja Rail Project, the FCT Administration will soon perform the ground breaking of 14 Rail Stations across the 250 square kilometers of the Federal Capital City and some satellite towns. FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (CON) made this disclosure on Thursday at the 2013 Ministerial Platform at the National Press Centre, Garki I District, Abuja. Senator Mohammed paid tribute to President Goodluck Jonathan who in his wisdom directed the fast tracking of this mode of transportation to reduce the over dependence on the road transportation mode which has been characterized by traffic congestion and chaos. The Minister reiterated that the contract for the construction of Abuja Rail project, though awarded in 2007 has attained a progress status of 21.12 to 25.57 percent with 4.38% of that percentage achieved between May 2012 and April 2013. According to him, the Federal Government has practically shown commitment to deliver this project during its current transformational period thereby signing a $500 Million loan agreement with Chinese Exim to facilitate the implementation of the project. He emphasized that the project has positive multiplier effects on Nigerians as 600 formal and informal jobs have so far been created and would be doubled as work progresses on the vital areas. The Minister revealed that this project is comprising of design and construction of 45.245 kilometer standard gauge railway tracks and associated permanent way, station buildings, bridges and culverts, communication and signaling of Lots 1A & 3 respectively. On high capacity buses, Senator Mohammed remarked that FCT Administration has increased the number of participants in the FCT Operator License Scheme to seven and that currently the NURTW has 40 buses, AUMTCO with 250 buses; FABREM has 40 buses; Shaaxi-40 buses, AUTOSTAR, SECDA as well as RTEIN newly licensed to add a minimal of 50 buses each before the end of 2013. The Minister recalled that the Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo last week commissioned 160 brand new taxis under the Abuja Taxi Scheme which is expected to be increased to 1,000 before the end of the year. Senator Mohammed assured that the On-Street Parking would be re-organized due to several complaints from residents to satisfy the yearning of the people in line with the vision and aspiration of president Jonathan Administration. His words: “The On-Street Parking was introduced to tackle some of the traffic problems especially during peak hours in the Abuja metropolis, ensure orderliness, increase in IGR, reduce congestion and has so far created 1,130 jobs”. The Minister said that a total of 126 intersections have been signalized in the city, 74 of them are with the old incandescent technology and 32 are the new LED with solar backup; while 26 intersections are currently been upgraded. Muhammad Hazat Sule FCAI Asst. Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Thursday, June 20, 2013.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:52:33 +0000
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