Calabar Monorail, a 12-car Light Rail Project Still Awaiting Inauguration by Buhari

From: Dianabasi Effiong, Calabar

The Monorail System, Calabar, is currently ready for use but only awaiting its inauguration by President Muhammadu Buhari on a date convenient to the Presidency.

The monorail when fully operational will use an Intamin P8 electric powered shuttle train to convey passengers from Tinapa Resort, across Lake Tinapa to Calabar International Conference Centre (CICC).

Our Correspondent who visited the Light Rail Project site reports that the Monorail also has three stations at Tinapa, Tinapa Lakeside Hotel and the CICC respectively.

The initiators of the project say it will allow access to Studio Tinapa, Tinapa Shopping Centre and the Tinapa waterpark and provide a quick alternative access connecting Tinapa to Summit Hills.

Built by Ponet TFZE for the Cross River Government, the train with a cruising speed reaching about 40 kilometres per hour, has 12 cars including 10 passenger and two equipment cars.

Each car is primed for seven to eight passengers all seated, while the train’s length, width and height are approximately 38, 1.95 and 2.2 metres respectively over tract.

When fully operational the electricity-powered air-conditioned traintrain with 1.62 metres height approximately in its passenger compartment runs a 24-hour service.

Earlier this year Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River had told journalists in Calabar that Buhari would inaugurate the monorail to mark his first year in Office.

Ayade had said during a second test ride in the monorail that wanted to ensure that the project was ready before the President’s arrival.

The governor who said that the flag-off of the monorail by the President would be a step to boost the state’s economy added that the project will also expand employment opportunities in Cross River.

Ayade said his administration is determined to extend the facility to the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar as panacea to envisaged congestion of the city centre through rapid investments inflow.

He said that visitors and tourists will be glad to experience Africa’s warmest city on the monorail.

At the train’s take-off point at Tinapa on Thursday it was observed that the project also has a parking space that can conveniently accommodate about 150 cars.

Mr Mba Mba, the station’s Electrical Engineer, who was on hand offer insights on progress made so far by the light rail project said the project was ready since December 2015.

He said: “Right now the Monorail System Calabar is ready for use pending commissioning by appropriate authorities. We have test-run the monorail system severally and confirmed that it is ready. The Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, was here with his team to see for themselves that it is ready for commissioning.

“Tourists troop here on daily basis to take a ride. But they were disappointed when they were turned back.We always give the excuse that although services are ready, they can only have their way when the monorail is officially commissioned.

“School children on excursions, families and several curious residents who, perhaps, have not seen this kind of train before, have been coming here to feed their eyes and seeking to take a ride.”

Mr Christian Ita, Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River, also confirmed the completion of the monorail project linking Tinapa Resort and the CICC.

He said: “It is awaiting commissioning and we are waiting on the presidency for a date for commissioning.”

Ita also said that he could not exactly mention the cost of the project: “I have no idea as to cost but I learnt it is five time cheaper than that of Rivers.’’

Ahmed Kuru, the Managing Director of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Kuru rode with Gov. Ayade on the train in Calabar a couple months back.

He said: “Cross River had done it again. First, it was the longest cable car in Africa, then the longest canopy walkway and today we are riding on the first monorail in sub-Sahara Africa and it is something that is highly commendable.”

The monorail project was first conceived by the Donald Duke administration as one in a series of pioneering achievements which the state is known for.