As the Federal Government begins commercial operations on the standard gauge Abuja-Kaduna rail line, passengers would enjoy free tolling during the one-month test-run services.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who made the disclosure in Abuja after a tour of the rail modernisation project, however noted that the contractors handling the project would still need to put some facilities up-to-date to facilitate a hitch-free operation.
Amaechi personally joined the technical staff of the CCECC, the Chinese contractor handling the project, a few of the Ministry staff and journalists to have first-hand experience of the train ride from Rigasa Terminal, Kaduna to Idu, Abuja terminal.
Addressing journalists on his findings, he stated, ““We have established the fact that there is rail line between Kaduna and Abuja which was what we set out to do today. We had a smooth trip safe for some areas they are yet to complete. For instance, there are alignments that they need to correct and they have promised to complete them before the end of March.””
While stating that passengers would not pay for tickets during the onemonth of test-run, the minister added that the system of payment and which company to handle it, is been worked out in the ministry.
He, however, hinted about the possibility of concessioning of the ticketing to CCECC because of the company’’s technical finesse and expertise. On the mode of ticketing he added, ““The question can only be answered at the point of our operation when we concession it out.
There is an argument in the ministry on whether we should concession to CCECC that built it or to Nigerians who have capacity to run a train service. However, the possibility of concessioning it to CCECC is very high because they have the technical capacity and the finesse to handle it.””
He stated that the involvement of forefingers in the management and maintenance of the rail system in the country would be for a short period of time, adding that he had ordered them to train Nigerians who would take over from them. ““We have managed CCECC management to work out the programme of training for Nigerians.
Nigerians would be trained not only in operation, but also in maintenance. This is because it is not every time a train goes bad that we will have to go to China or to GE in America.
““For instance, we are negotiating with GE to construct a narrow gauge from Lagos to Kano; they can’’t even run that without training Nigerians without creating training institute t will train them on communication.
No comments :
Post a Comment