The start of operations of the Light Rail Transit-Metro Rail Transit (LRT-MRT) common station was again postponed, as the Department of Transportation presented a new target on Monday, April 26.

In a pre-State of the Nation Address forum, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade’s presentation showed that partial opening of the LRT-MRT common station is now targeted within the 4th quarter of 2021.

“This was a project that has been delayed for 9 years. This will finally be partially operable by the 4th quarter of 2021,” said Tugade.

Construction is currently at 22.46%.

During the contract signing for the EDSA side of the common station in February 2019, Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan had said the government was eyeing full operations by the end of 2020.

In March 2020, infrastructure projects were temporarily halted because of the coronavirus lockdown. Limited construction work for the common station was allowed in early April 2020, subject to health protocols.

The common station will have 3 areas – Area A (facing EDSA, LRT1), Area B (linking Areas A and C, above the planned Metro Manila Subway), and Area C (platform for the MRT7, which is still under construction).

Area B was already completed by Ayala affiliate North Triangle Depot Commercial Corporation, while Areas A and C are separately being constructed.

The contract for Area A was awarded to BF Corporation-Foresight Development and Surveying Company Consortium.

San Miguel Corporation, meanwhile, is building Area C, which forms part of the MRT7 platform. The conglomerate earlier said the new railway line is expected to be fully operational by the 4th quarter of 2022.

The construction of the common station had begun in 2017, after being delayed for about a decade as conglomerates fought over the location of the terminal. – Rappler.com