Work on the first phase of the $500m cable car system, involving the clearing of the sites, the construction of towers and the laying of the cables will begin in November. It is being managed by Ropeways Transport, which signed an agreement with the state government and the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (Lamata), in 2012.
Work is expected to begin with the Apapa-Adeniji Adele route, where the firm is expected to open commercial operations next year. Unique and one of its kind, the 30-year long public-private partnership initiative will be funded with a loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Lagos is the first city-state in Nigeria to adopt the cable car for commercial purpose and the project is part of the reforms meant to reposition public sector transportation in the state. Under the agreement, Lamata approved the Apapa -Oluwole-Adeniji Adele, Ijora-Iddo-Adeniji Adele and Victoria Island-Falomo-Obalende-Adeniji Adele routes proposed by Ropeways.
Ropeways chief executive Captain Dapo Olumide said: “By complementing existing transport modes, the Lagos cable car transit system will play its part in reducing the traffic congestion in the city. Our proposal to work on the three routes is aimed at ameliorating the existing congestion on the three bridges connecting Lagos mainland to Lagos Island.
“We will also provide a link between Apapa and the central business district on Lagos Island and also to link Victoria Island with the central business district of Lagos Island. These are what we hope to achieve with the cable transit system.”
Lagos is expected to have 25m inhabitants by 2015, meaning that the current 12m daily passenger movement is projected to increase by 6% each year, which he said would put pressure on the existing infrastructure. Captain Olumide added that at the moment, those driving to work sometimes take three hours to complete their journey, pointing out that 200,000 new vehicles are registered in the state annually.
When up and running, the Lagos Cable Car Transit system will be 12km long, with a journey from Apapa to Adeniji taking roughly four minutes. Lagosians will be charged a fare of inbetween N100 (36p) and N300 (£1.10) per ride.
Globally, cable cars are used for transport because they are green as they do not use fuel and are very efficient. This project will have five sources of power including the Independent Power Project on Lagos Island, gas, diesel, turbines and inverters.
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