MRT-7 partial operations to happen in 2021, not 2020 —DOTr

By JOVILAND RITA, GMA News

Commercial operations of the Metro Rail Transit System Line 7 (MRT-7) has been moved to 2021 from 2020, the Department of Transportation said on Wednesday, citing issues in right-of-way acquisitions.

“Para sa MRT-7 ang target natin partial operation will be end of 2021,” Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said in a press conference.

The department initially set the commercial operations of MRT-7 to start in 2020.

The partial operation of the new mass rail transit system will start in the last quarter of 2021.

Batan noted they are facing “big challenges” in acquiring right-of-way properties for the project.

“Isa po doon sa pinakamalaking challenges in implementing our infrastructure projects is really right-of way-acquisition,” Batan said.

However, the contractor and concessionaire are supposedly doing their best to speed up the construction by “working on workables” to meet the 2021 target.

“Based on the availability noong right of way natin, at this point in time, on track tayo in achieving ‘yung partial operability target natin by 2021,” Batan said.

The project was conceptualized in 2001, with the budget approved in 2009 and in place in 2016.

“Ang catch up that we are doing … it spans almost two decades,” Batan said. —VDS, GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/701315/mrt-7-partial-operations-to-happen-in-2021-not-2020-dotr/story/