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By Darwin G. Amojelar, Reporter
IN A bid to meet President Gloria Arroyo’s directive to build a
“Grand Central Terminal” for the three mass rail transits (MRT)
next year, the government would have to shoulder all the expenses
for the project since the MRT 7 investors have yet to get financial
closure, an official of the Transport department said.
In a letter to the National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA), Guiling A. Mamondiong, undersecretary
for rail transportation, said the government would build an elevated
grand terminal that would be walking distance to commuters of all
lines situated near the intersection of EDSA-North Avenue and West
Avenue.
The plan is to construct a Metro Manila
Integrated Rail Terminal (MMIRT) for the existing MRT 3, the ongoing
LRT 1 North Extension and the proposed MRT 7.
Mamondiong said the proposed conceptual design
and location is a product of lengthy discussions among the
stakeholders, which include the Transport agency, the Light Rail
Transit Authority, the Metro Rail Transit Authority, Universal LRT
Corp. (ULC), the MRT 7 proponent and the Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority. The design is compliant with the requirements
of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Transport official said it would cost the
government an estimated P317.7 million. Since the MRT 7 would still
have to complete financial closure by December, the P460-million
deductive cost to MRT 7 may be advanced by the government.
“Therefore, to implement MMIRT now, the total
budgetary requirements is P777,698,717,” Mamondiong said.
According to the official, the additional cost
to the government in building the MMIRT would now be lower compared
with the scheme that involves dismantling two stations and then
building the MMIRT later.
“The MMIRT would surely help to reduce travel
time and generate more passengers for Line1, MRT 3 and MRT 7,” he
said.
Mamondiong said the target completion of the
project is May 2010 and full revenue operation on or about August
15, 2010.
The LRT 1 North Extension is also expected to be
completed in May next year, which will cost around P6.32 billion.
The project involves the extension of LRT 1 to
the North Avenue station of MRT 3, the construction of two new
intermediate stations— Balintawak and Roosevelt—and a terminal
station, the LRT 1 North Avenue station.
Once running, the LRT 1 North Extension is
expected to serve about 800,000 to 1 million passengers.
The 20-kilometer MRT 7, meanwhile, would cost
around $1.235 billion and will run from San Jose del Monte station
in Bulacan to SM City station in North Avenue and would be linked to
LRT Line 1 and MRT 3.
This line will begin its route from Tala,
Caloocan City, passing through La Mesa dam reservoir, Fairview,
Batasan, Diliman, Philcoa and end at EDSA-North Avenue.
It will serve an estimated two million commuters
in the northern parts of Quezon City and Caloocan City.
Apart from the elevated transport system, ULC
will also build a 17-kilometer, six-lane asphalt access road in
Marilao, Bulacan that will lead to its depot in Tala.
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