Partially Operational in 2021: MRT-7 Plods on Despite Setbacks

It might take a long time to complete, but still, commuters and motorists have something to rejoice about. The Department of Transportation (DOTr)  announced last Wednesday that the Metro Rail Transit-7 (MRT-7) will be partially operational by 2021.

According to San Miguel Corporation MRT-7 Inc. (SMC MRT-7) Infrastructure Technical head Norberto Conti, the project's civil works is 37.49 percent ready. In this case, it includes construction of stations, together with foundation and guide way works.

Conti also added that the train cars and rails stock are already 53.09 percent complete.

Expected Operations

Timothy John Batan, DOTr Undersecretary for Railways, said that its first station, from North Avenue Station up to the Sacred Heart Station in Caloocan City, will be partially operational by 2021.

Meanwhile, North Avenue Station up to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan station will be fully operational by 2022.

Not Without Challenges

The SMC MRT-7 plodded on despite encountering setbacks along the way. One issue, which is the "right-of-way-issue", took them temporarily off the tracks.

"Ginagamit po talaga natin example itong proyektong ito, itong MRT-7, sa iba po naming contractors. Na bakit hindi niyo gayahin yung approach na ginagawa sa MRT-7? (We use this project as an example, the MRT-7, in our other contractors. We ask why don't they copy the concessionaire’s approach in MRT-7?)," Batan said.

"Meron kaming deliverables, meron deliverables yung concessionaire, yung contractor namin. Hintayan po hanggang matapos lahat ng deliverables. Habang naghihintayan, hindi po umuusad yung proyekto (We have deliverables, the concessionaire has deliverables. It becomes a waiting game until all deliverables are done)," Batan added.