P9.7-billion LRT2 East Extension project breaks ground
Published May 30, 2017, 10:00 PM
By Emmie V. Abadilla
The P9.759-billion Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 East Extension, a 4.19-kilometer stretch from Santolan, Pasig City to Masinag, Antipolo, meant to slash travel time between the two destinations from 3 hours to 40 minutes, broke ground yesterday (May 30, 2017) and is expected to operate in the first quarter of 2019.
The project extends the elevated tracks of LRT Line 2 by constructing two stations in front of Robinson’s Place Metro East and Sta. Lucia in Cainta, Rizal (Emerald Station) and the Masinag Station at the Masinag Junction in Antipolo City.
The two stations can accommodate 80,000 passengers daily during their first 5 years of operation, adding to the current LRT 2 average daily ridership of 240,000.
“It’s a timely addition,” noted Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, acknowledging “the need for greater accessibility of passengers coming from the eastern side of Metro Manila, extending to key areas of Antipolo and its nearby cities.
“This increased capacity of 80,000 daily ridership of the rail line will not only provide a means to decongest our roads, but offer better riding options to our daily commuters,” he pointed out.
D.M Consunji, Inc (DMCI) bagged the contract for the 2 stations which is set to start construction next Tuesday, June 6, 2017 and targets to complete the work in August, 2018.
The project proves the government takes solving traffic woes seriously, remarked LRT Authority (LRTA) Administrator Berroya.
“The LRT Line 2 East Extension is part of the fulfillment of the government’s promise to ease traffic congestion by extending the service of the LRT Line 2 System to the eastern part of Metro Manila,” he explained.
Representatives from the provincial government of Rizal, Pasig and Marikina also attended yesterday’s groundbreaking.
