Phase I Monorail Gulps N11bn …Equipment Arrives Onne Port

The Rivers State Government says it has so far spent about N11 billion on the on-going Rivers Monorail project in Port Harcourt.

The Commissioner for Transport, George Tolofari disclosed this on Tuesday, shortly after inspecting the monorail equipment at the stacking area of the Federal Lighter Terminal (FLT), Onne Port and the warehouse at Trans Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt.

He said, “The on-going monorail project is the Phase IA, which will start from Sharks Park at the Station Bus-stop. There would be a mini depot there and the whole rail line will terminate at the UTC junction.

According to him, “it will via off Education, bust-stop to Rumuwoji (Mile 1), upto Mgbunduku (Mile 2) and finally to Nkpolu-Oroworukwo (Mile 3)  UST Round-About and turn by Abuja by-pass to hook on to Olu-Obasanjo Road down to Waterlines, then go back to Garrison and another line will again take off from UTC and stop at Garrison.

He assured that by this time next year the Phase IA of the project would have been completed and subsequently the other phase will follow. He pointed out that a thorough route survey was carried out and only few houses will be affected at Azikiwe Road, were adequately compensated.

On the energy to power the monorail the commissioner said “we are working with the ministry of power and you know power in Rivers State is improving and by the time they finish the job on power, the state will have steady power supply and the rail will be hooked on to the power source.”

Also assuring that there will be a backup with diesel he said the monorail project is on track and must be completed and commissioned for use, as against the feelings of people that the project will be abandoned halfway.