The full-blast construction of the LRT-1 Cavite extension project starts today, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), and Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) announced Monday.
What commences tomorrow (May 7) is the actual construction of the extension line, fulfilling the decades-old promise of connecting the province of Cavite to Metro Manila through a railway network, they said.
Tomorrow’s (May 7) ceremony marks a substantial movement from the groundbreaking rite held in May 2017, which was actually intended to mark the start of pre-construction activities then of the rail extension project, they said Monday in a statement.
Since the start of pre-construction activities in May 2017, the DOTr and the LRTA immediately proceeded to the gargantuan task of resolving the Right-of-Way Acquisition (ROWA).
“The ROWA process for LRT-1 Cavite extension started way back in 2007. But when the Duterte administration took over in July 2016, 0 percent of the ROW was certified as ‘free and clear’ by an independent consultant (IC),” a press statement stated.
But through the political will and industry of transport officials under the leadership of DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, the ROWA process has now been completed, and the right of way for nearly the entire stretch of the rail extension line to Cavite was certified “free and clear” by the IC.
During the pre-construction phase, as well, the DOTr and LRTA accomplished the relocation of Informal Settler Families (ISFs), utilities, and clearing of the construction yard.
Further, the delivery of 120 Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs), the mock-up of which has been delivered in January this year, is on track to meet the target of partial operations by the fourth quarter of 2021.
All things are also set for the start of expansion of the Baclaran Depot and the construction of the new Zapote Depot.
The LRMC is also ready to commence construction of the viaducts and the eight new train stations, as over 90 percent of the ROW of
Package 1 has been certified free and clear by the IC.
With all these preparations and pre-construction activities accomplished, we are now ready to start the actual construction of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension.