… BRTs to load full capacity, despite Covid-19
Bus rapid transit (BRT) charges within the city will increase soon, as the Lagos State Government has approved a new bus operator, the Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL) – operator of Marcopolo high-capacity buses – to ply the BRT dedicated lane.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LBSL, Mr. Idowu Oguntona, in a statement, Monday, said that the two approvals would take effect from August 1.
He said that the firm had been given approval by the state government for an average of 46 percent increase in the transportation fare of LBSL.
Oguntona also disclosed that the city’s government has approved them to load the vehicles to full capacity – without standing.
The LBSL boss said: “The approval to use the BRT corridor by the governor is to further give the commuting public a better experience on Lagos roads.
“The increase in the number of passengers and fare become necessary in order to enable the company to sustain its operations following the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on public bus transportation.
“The governor also approved LBSL’s request to increase the number of passengers per bus from 20 to 42 in strict observance of updated COVID-19 safety protocol as directed by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the operation of public transport, whilst ensuring all other measures are in place,” he said.
According to him, as part of reforms ongoing in the LBSL, the government has also granted approval for the operators of the buses to commute passengers to its full capacity without standing.
He said that this must be done with strict adherence to necessary safety protocols.
Oguntona said that the COVID-19 guidelines, which restricted the firm to convey not more than 20 passengers per bus, had distressed the business of bus transport.
He said that the development led to 72 percent drop in revenue of the company while running costs remained fairly the same.
Oguntona described the approval from the governor as a long-expected desire by the agency.
According to him, the approval came at a period when the commuters needed it most, rendering travelling times more predictable on road corridors with bus dedicated lanes.
He explained that the approved gives access to LBSL buses to use the dedicated BRT corridor from Berger through Ikorodu Road to Leventis, TBS, and Obalende and also from Oshodi through Ikorodu Road to Leventis, Inner- Marina, TBS and Obalende among several other routes.
He commended the gesture of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for listening to the yearnings of Lagosians when it mattered most by allowing LBSL to ply BRT lane.
Oguntona also appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Transportation as well as the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority ( LAMATA) for their relentless efforts in moving the company forward.
