Saturday, January 6, 2018

Work starts on $3-billion North-South Rail project

By Emmie V. Abadilla

Advance site clearing works  on the  USD$3 Billion Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded North-South Rail Commuter Railway project (NSCR) started yesterday,  led by Department of Transportation (DOTr) and local government officials from Marilao and Bocaue, Bulacan.

This includes clearing the site, grading of unleveled surfaces and demolition of obstructing structures of the NSCR, a 38-kilometer railway.

Along with the Metro Manila Subway Project, NSCR is part of the mass transit backbone forming the North-South Corridor advocated in the Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development Study for Metro Manila and its Surrounding Areas, a study under the National Economic Development.

Already, the DOTr has marked the railway’s stations middle of last year at Marilao and Meycauayan in Bulacan, and Valenzuela, Caloocan and Tutuban in Metro Manila.

The agency has also awarded the contract of the construction supervision consulting services for the project to NS Tren, a consortium led by Oriental Consultants Global in December, 2017.

Furthermore, the DOTr has partnered with local government units (LGUs) to address right of way acquisition so the construction can begin on time.

Then the JICA  handed the detailed engineering design of the project to DOTr, signaling the project’s transition from planning to actual construction. This will expedite the construction work of contractors to be employed using the JICA loan.

“We will continue supporting the Philippine government’s efforts to ensure that the future generation reaps the benefit of an integrated, seamless, and resilient transport infrastructure system through the NSCR project, “ remarked JICA Chief Representative Susumu Ito.

JICA believes that the project is a ‘game changer in Philippine transport infrastructure by helping kick start the administration’s large-scale investments in modern railways.’

The new railway will also use Japanese seismic designs to ensure commuter safety low emission electric trains for sustainability.

The 3-billion dollar project should be completed within the current administration and is expected to reduce travel time from two hours via traditional transportation to 35 minutes from City of Malolos, Bulacan to Tutuban, Manila.

“In the future, we are confident that this project, once completed, will help improve mobility and connectivity of emerging growth centers near Metro Manila while also creating jobs and attracting investments in other areas,” Ito added.

Since the 1960s, JICA has been supporting Philippine transport infrastructure system through hundreds of roads and bridges to encourage investments and sustain economic growth.

(UPDATED) The detailed design study of the North-South Commuter Railway Project (Malolos-Tutuban) using the System Map, courtesy: OpenStreetmap, while the all stations architectural - key and setting out plan and section, also the Site Development Plan - Ground Level, Architectural Plan - Ground Level, Concourse and Platform Level.


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