More convenient travel awaits rail commuters on the east side of Metro Manila as two new stations of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) East Extension Project are expected to start operations in April this year.

In a statement on Thursday, March 4, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said the line's East Extension Project is already 93.42 percent complete as of Jan. 31 this year.

LRTA Spokesperson Hernando Cabrera said the two additional stations – Emerald Station in Marikina City and Masinag Station at the Masinag Junction in Antipolo City – will have a soft opening on April 26 and will immediately start operations the next day.

In a project briefing and concourse walk-through of the line's station in Marikina last January. Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade pushed for the immediate completion of the new stations to benefit more commuters amid the pandemic.

According to Cabrera, Package 1 of the project, which involves the construction of the eastbound and westbound viaducts, has been finished. Meanwhile, Package 2, which involves the design and construction of stations, is also substantially complete.

Works are likewise ongoing for Package 3, which covers the project's electro-mechanical system, rails, power supply, telecommunications, and signaling system.

Cabrera assured that the rail line's electro-mechanical works are being fast-tracked to meet the target date of the project's inauguration.

The East Extension Project intends to add four kilometers to the 13.8-kilometer LRT-2 train line, which currently runs from Recto Avenue in Manila to Santolan Station in Marikina, connecting to Antipolo City.

Once completed, travel time from Recto to Masinag is expected to significantly drop to about 40 minutes from the usual three hours travel through bus or jeepney.

The LRT-2 East Extension can also accommodate an additional 80,000 passengers daily, boosting the entire rail line’s current daily ridership to 240,000 passengers.