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By Darwin G. Amojelar, Reporter
THE joint venture of D.M. Consunji and First
Balfour will start the construction of a mass rail transit that will
run from Monumento in Caloocan City to North Avenue in Quezon City
next week, an official of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA)
said.
Costing about P6.4 billion, the project involves
the construction, including the detailed design of a 5.71-kilometer
elevated line from Monumento station of LRT Line 1 to North Avenue
of Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3), two new intermediate stations (Balintawak
and Roosevelt) and a terminal station (Line 1 North Avenue station).
The Balintawak station will provide modal
interchange with bus and jeepney services entering Metro Manila from
the north via the North Luzon Expressway.
Of the P6.4 billion cost, civil and
architectural works would amount to P3.4 billion; electromechanical
works, P1.9 billion; consultancy services, P317.4 million,
contingency, P318 million; and inflation adjustments, P342.4
million.
Melquiades Robles, LRTA administrator said
the project will be state funded and implemented by the Department
of Transportation and Communication.
The LRT North Extension Project is expected to
serve around 800,000 to 1 million passengers once fully operational.
The project will be implemented in two years,
with construction to begin this year and completed in April 2010.
Robles said the LRTA is negotiating with SM
Prime Holdings Inc. for the financing of the additional station to
be constructed between the proposed Roosevelt and North Avenue
stations adjacent to the mall developer’s property. The additional
station will cost P100 million.
In August 31. 2007, the LRTA and the consultant
of the project, Metrolink JV met with the owners of Shoe Mart
Department Stores.
LRTA said the SM group would finance a suitable
cost-benefit analysis for the additional station.
The LRT North Extension Project, which aims to
extend the existing LRT Line 1 to the North to close the EDSA
Loop,will need three additional stations from the existing Monumento
Station of Line 1 and ending at the North Avenue Station of MRT 3.
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