FCTA Approves N92 Million for Mass Transit Network
http://allafrica.com/stories/201008040265.htmlTowards the entrenchment of an effective and efficient transportation system in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the FCT Executive Committee (FCT EXCO) has approved the release of the sum of N92 Million to Messer CPCS Transcom for additional works on the Abuja Mass Transit Network.
FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed who disclosed this said it was one of the decisions taken at the Bi- weekly meeting of the EXCO. He disclosed that the additional work of 36.7km route design track line was due to the review of the Central Business District and the Abuja North-West Phase IV of the Abuja Master Plan.
The minister hinted that the FCT administration is also seeking assistance from the World Bank and the African Development Bank on the actualisation of an effective transportation system in the FCT.
He explained that the contractor has concluded consultancy services contract on the feasibility study and conceptual design of lots 1, 2, & 3 of the Abuja Mass Transit Network and that the FCT Transportation Secretariat has initiated the immediate procurement of lots 2, through the Public-Private-Partnership arrangement, in order to complement the on-going lots 1 & 3 of the FCT Rail Network to ease traffic congestion along the Nyanya/Karu axis.
"This is in addition to the procurement of operation's concessionaire for the on-going lots 1 & 3 as well as immediate procurement of lots 4, 5 & 6 of the Abuja Rail Network by the FCT Transportation Secretariat," he said.
Senator Mohammed remarked that the consultancy will surely assist the FCT administration in the development of a mass transit system that meets the highest international standard of technical excellence that would also facilitate efficient operation and management of the private sector with broad economic, social and political acceptance.
He assured that the FCT administration will not leave any stone unturned in improving the transportation network of the FCT, noting that the traffic bottlenecks being experienced in some areas of the Federal Capital City at peak hours is of great concern to the authorities.