DOTr to get Dalian trains study from audit firm next week

Though the audit report on the Dalian trains is expected to be released to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) after the Lenten break, the public will have to wait a little longer to see if they can finally get to ride the new coaches which are now gathering dust at the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) depot.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said on Wednesday that the report on the 48 China-made trains worth P3.8 billion would be submitted to him next week.

Earlier, the DOTr said that independent audit firm TUV Rheinland has yet to conclude its study on the trains since there was still a need to gather “additional information on design and validation evidence,” as well as to conduct further “type and routine tests.”

One of its recommended tests deals with the trains’ weight. The DOTr has yet to schedule the weight tests.

While all the Dalian trains bought by the Aquino government were delivered in January last year, these have yet to be rolled out due to supposed safety and compatibility issues with the MRT 3’s current rolling stock.



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Traffic Calvary: MMDA to close Commonwealth-Philcoa U-turn on Holy Thursday

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia says affected motorists will have to go around the Quezon Memorial Elliptical Road to head to Commonwealth Avenue eastbound

REROUTING PLAN. The MMDA releases a rerouting plan ahead of the MRT7 construction along Commonwealth-Philcoa area in Quezon City. Photo courtesy of MMDA

Motorists who travel along the area of Commonwealth Avenue and the Quezon Memorial Elliptical area in Quezon City, brace yourself.

Expect the already heavy traffic in the vicinity to get even heavier with the closure of the U-turn slot along the Commonwealth-Philippine Coconut Authority (Philcoa) vicinity beginning Holy Thursday, March 29, to give way to Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT7) construction.

In a press briefing on Monday, March 26, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia said affected motorists, those who take the U-turn at the end of Commonwealth Avenue, will instead have to go around the entire Elliptical Road to return to Commonwealth Avenue.

Garcia said the U-turn slot will reopen August 2018.

But the closure of the U-turn is not the only "Kalbaryo" for motorists, the MMDA said private contractors will also occupy two inner lanes of Commonwealth Avenue-Philcoa area on both directions.

As a palliative, the MMDA said they would remove obstructions on the outer portions of Commonwealth Avenue to "widen" the remaining lanes.

Garcia also said that they will install plastic barriers along Maharlika Street to serve as separators to prevent vehicles going to Commonwealth Avenue from swerving into other lanes.

In the rerouting plan, MMDA said motorists going to Visayas and North Avenue should stay on the left, while those going to Commonwealth must stay on the right lane:

• From Masaya Street
• To Commonwealth Avenue
• Right to Maharlika Street
• Right to Elliptical Road
• Right to Commonwealth Avenue
• To Visayas, North Avenue
• Left to Maharlika Street
• Right to Mayaman Street
• Right to Kalayaan Avenue
• Right to Elliptical Road
• From Elliptical-Kalayaan Junction
• To Commonwealth Avenue
• Stay at right lanes
• To Visayas, North Avenue
• Stay at left lanes
• Commonwealth Avenue (Southbound)
• To Commonwealth Avenue
• Take Elliptical Road

According to the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, at least 2,125 vehicles traverse to portion of Elliptical Road to Visayas and North Avenue during the usual morning rush hour.

Some 4,120 vehicles from Elliptical Road turn to Commonwealth Avenue during the same timeframe.

Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC) broke ground for the $1.6-billion MRT7 project in April 2016. The 23-kilometer railway system, which will run from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte City, is expected to be completed by 2020.

It will have 14 stations which will take 30 minutes to travel end-to-end: North Avenue, Quezon Memorial, University Avenue, Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Batasan, Manggahan, Doña Carmen, Regalado Highway, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino, Sacred Heart, Tala, and San Jose del Monte.

The MRT7 will also connect to the existing MRT3 and Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1), with the common station to be located between SM North EDSA and TriNoma malls in Quezon City.

U-turn slot along Commonwealth to be closed for MRT-7 construction

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday warned motorists passing along Commonwealth Avenue that one of the U-turn slots located in the area would be closed starting Thursday.

Jojo Garcia, acting General Manager of the MMDA, said that the U-turn slot in Commonwealth Avenue-Philcoa would be closed in preparation for the construction of the tunnel guide way for MRT-7.

He said that the construction would take up two inner lanes of both directions in the Commonwealth Avenue area.

Despite this, Garcia said that the MMDA and the private contractors have agreed to widen the remaining lanes by removing the plastic barriers in the affected area.

“We are glad private contractors are coordinating with us to make the necessary adjustments to ease the expected traffic build-up in the area caused by the ongoing MRT 7 construction,” said Garcia in a statement.

He then advised the motorists to use the Elliptical Road in order to go back to Commonwealth Avenue-eastbound.

“Vehicles traversing Elliptical Road going to Visayas and North Avenue area should stay at the left lane while vehicles going to Commonwealth Avenue should stay at the right lane,” he said.

The MRT-7, once finished, would have an elevated transit line spanning 22.8 kilometers from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan to North Avenue, Quezon City. /je



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Woman dies in Taguig fire; 600 families homeless

A woman died while about 600 families were affected in the fire that swept through a residential area in Taguig City on Sunday afternoon.

According to a report of Radyo Inquirer 990 AM on Monday, Ramona Palima was trapped inside her house when fire broke out inside the Technological University of the Philippines compound in West Bicutan.

The affected families were left homeless and are staying in a covered court and a nearby school for the meantime.

Initial findings indicated that the fire started in the house of a certain Alma Santillan and immediately spread to other houses made of light materials, the report said.

The fire started at 3:23 p.m. and reached the fifth alarm at 4:33 p.m. It was declared fire under control a 7:51 p.m.

MRT-9 proposed; C-6 starts next month

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian firm Alloy MTD Group, through its Philippine unit, has formally submitted an unsolicited proposal to build the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 9, a 9-kilometer railway connecting Lerma to University of the Philippines Diliman.

The cost of the project in 2016 was estimated at $1 billion(P50 billion), but this has escalated to P60 billion according to Patrick Nicholas David, president of MTD Philippines, Inc.

This train system would be known as the East-West rail and will use España as alignment. It will have 11 stations.

David said the company is now waiting for the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) approval of the proposal to start the project.

MTD has tapped A Brown for this project.

David said the NEDA approval would pave the way for the grant of original proponent status on the project, which would then undergo a Swiss challenge.

He also said there was an earlier proposal from another group for the same alignment.

However, that project would be a bus rapid transit using the same at-grade road.

MTD had studied the idea of the MRT line 9 as early as 2014.

Meanwhile, SMC will start the constructions for the P45-billion Southeast Metro Manila Expressway or the C-6 expressway project by April 2018 according to Department of Transportation.

Last January, the groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of C6 project was held, its slated to be completed in two years or by 2020.

Once completed, motorists and commuters can travel from Quezon City to Taguig in Just 35 minutes. It will connect to the existing Skyway Stage 1 in FTI, Taguig and would end in Batasan in Quezon City.

The SEMME is a 34 km six lane that starts in the south with a connection to the existing Skyway Stage 1 in FTI, Taguig City and terminates at Batasan Complex in Quezon City and eventually will connect to the NLEX via Balagtas.

The project seeks to address the need to provide an alternate route, linking the Southern and Eastern cities of Metro Manila, that will help in decongesting the traffic situation being currently experienced in these areas. —Irma Isip, Myla Iglesias

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‘PNR south railway rehab done before DU30’s term ends’

China has promised to finish the Philippine National Railway’s south railway rehabilitation and restoration project before President Duterte’s term ends in 2022, Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the assurance was made by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua during their meeting two weeks ago.

“I’ve talked to the ambassador of China and he told me that the term will not be finished without the revival of the south railway,” Roque said in a press conference in Camarines Sur.

Roque said the construction of the PNR’s South Line Manila to Legazpi City in Bicol has been awarded to China.

“So be patient, the south railway will be finished and even the President had said he will not leave without fulfilling this promise,” Roque said.

The revival of the PNR’s south railway stretching from Tutuban, Manila to Matnog, Sorsogon will be funded by a loan from China reportedly worth PHP175 billion payable in 20 years at 2-percent interest per annum.

The South Line is one of the flagship projects under the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.

The 683-kilometer South Line will have nine train stations in Tutuban, Tayuman, Blumentritt, Espana, Paco, FTI, Los Banos, Lucena City, Gumaca, Pili/Naga, Legazpi/Camalig, Sorsogon City and Matnog.

Meanwhile, Roque welcomed the signing of a loan agreement with Japan worth PHP51.3 billion for the construction of the initial phase of flagship subway system project.  PNA

 “We are moving a step closer to having our first subway system that would help alleviate traffic congestion in Metro Manila,” Roque said.

He said the construction of the 36-kilometer subway will begin next year and is expected to be completed by 2025.

 “The subway will begin partial operations by 2020. Once completed, the subway will have 16 stations and will run from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City up to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport,” Roque said.

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First 3 Metro subway stations seen ready by 2022

The initial three stations of the country’s first subway would be operating by May 2022, government officials said Friday, with the right-of-way needed to start building them ready to be delivered by midyear.

“In line with the ‘fast and sure’ approach, the Philippine government processed the loan approvals for this project within six months only, from the National Economic and Development Authority Board approval on Sept. 12, 2017, up to the signing of the loan agreement today. We are targeting May 2022 to begin operation of the first three of the subway stations—Mindanao Avenue-Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora, and North Avenue,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said in a speech after the signing ceremony of the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s 104.5-billion yen (about P51 billion) first tranche of official development assistance for the P356.9-billion Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1.

The entire central zone will be operational by 2025, including the commercial space for the subway stations that will help defray the cost of operating this facility, Dominguez said.

“The plan for the subway line envisions a north zone that will extend to Bulacan and a south zone that will extend to Cavite. I am confident that the succeeding administrations will get this done,” Dominguez added.

The 30-kilometer underground railroad will run between Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport across 14 stations, with the possible extension of one to two more stations being planned by the Department of Transportation, according to Dominguez.

“The project includes a depot in Valenzuela, electro-mechanical systems and rolling stock, and the establishment of a Philippine Railway Institute. The institute will provide training as well as do research and development on regulation, train operations and maintenance. This will build a corps of expert train personnel to manage not only the subway system but all the commuter rail lines of the country. It is about time that our commuter lines be run by real experts,” Dominguez said.

The detailed engineering design for the subway, which is being funded under a Jica grant, is currently ongoing. The design includes flood management features and applies the best seismic technology available. “We will acquire tunnel boring equipment to hasten the construction period. The Philippine government commits to working on this project ‘25/8’ to get it done at the soonest possible time,” Dominguez added.

For his part, new Jica Philippines chief representative Yoshio Wada said that the Japanese aid agency offered its support to the construction of the subway project so the Philippines could sustain its growth trajectory and improve the quality of life of many Filipinos through seamless mobility and connectivity.

Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John R. Batan told a press conference that since the right-of-way for the project would be mostly subterranean, these would be easier to acquire compared with at-grade or elevated infrastructure projects. —BEN O. DE VERA



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DOTr says LRT 2 to be completed by third quarter

The Department of Transportation said on Friday that it expects the LRT Line 2 Masinag Extension to be operational by the third quarter of this year.

“By third quarter of 2018, the LRT 2 extension from Santolan to Antipolo will be completed, and will be operational by next year,” Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

“Soon, you can travel from Manila to Antipolo in just 30 to 40 minutes,” he added.

The P2.27-billion LRT 2 East Extension Project involves the construction of a four -kilometer extension of the existing LRT 2 System from Santolan, Pasig City to Masinag in Antipolo, Rizal.

Two additional stations will be built including the Emerald station in front of Robinsons Metro East and Sta. Lucia in Cainta, Rizal and Masinag station located before the Masinag Junction in Antipolo City.

Tugade also said that the construction of the MRT 7 is on track.

“In 2020, this 22-km line, which will have 14 stations, will make it easier for our commuters in Fairview, Commonwealth and San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan areas to travel to Manila,” he said.

The P69.3-billion MRT 7 project, which will have 14 stations, is being built by SMC Mass Rail Transit 7 Inc. under SMC’s infrastructure subsidiary San Miguel Holdings Inc.

The 22 km MRT7 rail transit system will connect North Avenue in Quezon city to San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan. Among the areas where stations are to be constructed include: North Avenue, Quezon City Memorial Circle, University Avenue, Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Batasan, Doña Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino, Sacred Heart, Tala, and San Jose Del Monte.

Upon completion, MRT 7 will accommodate an estimated ridership of 420,000 passengers daily.

The project also has a road component―a 23-kilometer stretch that would start at the Balagtas Interchange of North Luzon Expressway and end in an intermodal terminal in San Jose Del Monte.

This will provide provincial buses with an alternate route to San Jose and will help decongest Edsa.

San Miguel will also build a depot in San Jose del Monte that will house a control center, administrative offices, warehouse and facilities for train cars.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/news/national/261149/dotr-says-lrt-2-to-be-completed-by-third-quarter.html

DOTr says LRT 2 to be completed by third quarter

The Department of Transportation said on Friday that it expects the LRT Line 2 Masinag Extension to be operational by the third quarter of this year.

“By third quarter of 2018, the LRT 2 extension from Santolan to Antipolo will be completed, and will be operational by next year,” Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

“Soon, you can travel from Manila to Antipolo in just 30 to 40 minutes,” he added.

The P2.27-billion LRT 2 East Extension Project involves the construction of a four-kilometer extension of the existing LRT 2 System from Santolan, Pasig City to Masinag in City of Antipolo, Rizal.

Two additional stations will be built including the Emerald station in front of Robinsons Metro East in Pasig City and Sta. Lucia in Cainta, Rizal and Masinag station located before the Masinag Junction in Antipolo City.

Tugade also said that the construction of the MRT 7 is on track.

“In 2020, this 22-km line, which will have 14 stations, will make it easier for our commuters in Fairview, Commonwealth and San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan areas to travel to Manila,” he said.

The P69.3-billion MRT 7 project, which will have 14 stations, is being built by SMC Mass Rapid Transit 7 Inc. under SMC’s infrastructure subsidiary San Miguel Holdings Inc.

The 22 km MRT7 rail transit system will connect North Avenue in Quezon city to San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan. Among the areas where stations are to be constructed include: North Avenue, Quezon City Memorial Circle, University Avenue, Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Batasan, Doña Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino, Sacred Heart, Tala, and San Jose Del Monte.

Upon completion, MRT 7 will accommodate an estimated ridership of 420,000 passengers daily.

The project also has a road component―a 23-kilometer stretch that would start at the Balagtas Interchange of North Luzon Expressway and end in an intermodal terminal in San Jose Del Monte.

This will provide provincial buses with an alternate route to San Jose and will help decongest Edsa.

San Miguel will also build a depot in San Jose del Monte that will house a control center, administrative offices, warehouse and facilities for train cars.

PH, Japan ink loan for Metro Manila subway

The first tranche of a loan for the Metro Manila subway project is in.

Philippine and Japanese officials inked on Friday the ₱51.37-billion (104.53-billion Japanese Yen) loan agreement, meant to kickstart construction for the estimated P355.6-billion project.

It is expected to be repaid within 40 years with a 12-year grace period.

The 25-kilometer underground railway, initially pegged at ₱227 billion, is expected to benefit 370,000 passengers a day. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) reported a five-kilometer extension was also planned.

According to DOTr, the subway will have 14 stations from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City, including two additional stations connected to the Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1.

The Philippines was represented by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Transportation Undersecretary for Railways TJ Batan.

Japan International Cooperation Agency Chief Representative Yoshio Wada, outgoing Chief Representative Susumo Ito, and Japan Embassy representative Noboru Kageyama signed for Japan.

Groundbreaking for the subway is set for the end of 2018. Target completion is by 2025, but Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade previously told The Source that he hopes to have three stations operational in the next two years.

The subway is part of President Rodrigo Duterte's "Build, Build, Build" program. The infrastructure plan is one of the administration's efforts against notorious traffic in the Philippines, which has been reported to cost the country ₱3.5 billion a day.

However, some administration critics fear that the excessive costs will leave the Philippines in debt — particularly to China, which committed over ₱382 billion in loans and grants in November 2017.

PH, Japan sign P51-B loan deal for phase 1 of Metro Manila Subway

Under Phase 1, 30 kilometers of underground railway with 14 stations will be built from Mindanao Avenue to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport

The Metro Manila Subway project is another step closer to getting underway after the Philippines and Japan signed the first of a planned series of loan agreements.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on Friday, March 16, announced the signing the first tranche of the loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), amounting to ¥104.53 billion or P51.3 billion.

Dominguez said the loan carries an interest rate of 0.10% per annum for non-consulting services, and 0.01% per annum for consulting services, to be repaid within 40 years inclusive of a 12-year grace period.

JICA said the loan agreement will cover actual demand for funding for the initial years of the project.

“As the Philippines’ trusted partner in development for many years, JICA offers our support to the construction of the subway project so the Philippines can sustain its growth trajectory, and improve the quality of life of many Filipinos through seamless mobility and connectivity,” newly appointed JICA Chief Representative Yoshio Wada said in a statement.

This is the first loan signed for Phase 1 of the Metro Manila Subway Project which is estimated to cost a total of P356.96 billion. It is the biggest single project so far under the Duterte administration's "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure program.

Dominguez said that Phase 1 will cover the Central Zone, which involve the construction of about 30 kilometers of underground railway with 14 stations – with the possible extension of one to two more stations being planned by the Department of Transportation – from Mindanao Avenue to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The project also includes a depot in Valenzuela, electro-mechanical systems and rolling stock, and the establishment of a Philippine Railway Institute (PRI).

The finance secretary said that the PRI will provide training as well as research and development on regulation, train operations, and maintenance in order to build a corps of expert train personnel to manage not only the subway system but all the commuter rail lines of the country.

“It is about time that our commuter lines be run by real experts,” Dominguez said.

The engineering design for the project, which is also being funded under a JICA grant, is still being made.

Dominguez also said that the plan for the subway line envisions a North Zone that will extend to Bulacan and a South Zone that will extend to Cavite.

“I am confident that the succeeding administrations will get this done,” he said.

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Metro Manila Subway: PH, Japan sign loan deal

The Philippines and Japan signed on Friday the first tranche of a 104.5 billion yen (P51.3 billion) loan for Metro Manila's first subway, one of the centerpieces of President Rodrigo Duterte's infrastructure overhaul, according to a government statement.

The subway will begin partial operations by 2020, said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, who signed the loan along with Japan International Cooperation Agency chief representative Yoshio Wada.

Dominguez called the subway the "biggest single project" under the P8 trillion program dubbed "Dutertenomics."

Once completed, the subway will have 14 stations and will run from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City up to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

"The timely completion of the subway project will crown the aggressive infrastructure program the administration of President Duterte has initiated," Dominguez said.

"It will likewise crown the achievement of the economic diplomacy the Duterte administration has undertaken," he said.

Japan has increased engagements with the Philippines since the time of Duterte's predecessor, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino, as Tokyo and Manila faced separate maritime disputes with Beijing.

In a rare diplomatic gesture, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Duterte at his home in Davao City last year.

PHL, JICA sign ¥104.53-B loan deal for Metro Manila subway

The Philippine government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed on Friday the first tranche of a financing agreement for the first phase of the Metro Manila Subway project.

The first tranche of the loan deal amounts to ¥104.530 billion or around P51 billion.

It carries an interest rate of 0.10 percent per annum for non-consulting services and 0.01 percent per annum for consulting services to be repaid within 40 years including a 12-year grace period.

The agreement was signed by top officials of the Philippine government and JICA in Manila.

Signing for the Philippines were Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy Batan.

The Japanese government was represented by incoming JICA Chief Representative Yoshio Wada, outgoing JICA Chief Representative Susumo Ito, and Japan Embassy representative Noboru Kageyama.

“This project, which is the Phase I of the Metro Manila Subway Project, is so far the biggest single project under the Build, Build, Build program of President Duterte,” Dominguez said in his remarks during the signing ceremony.

“For the first phase, we calculate a total project cost of P356.96 billion or $7.05 billion. This phase, covering the Central Zone, involves the construction of about 30 kilometers of underground railway with 14 stations with the possible extension of one to two more stations being planned by DOTr, from Mindanao Avenue to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA),” Dominguez said.

The project includes a depot in Valenzuela City, electro-mechanical systems and rolling stock, and the establishment of a Philippine Railway Institute (PRI).

“The Institute will provide training as well as do research and development on regulation, train operations and maintenance. This will build a corps of expert train personnel to manage not only the subway system but all the commuter rail lines of the country,” Dominguez noted.

First subway rail system

“It is about time that our commuter lines be run by real experts,” he said.

The detailed engineering design for the subway, which is being funded under a JICA grant, is now ongoing.

“The design includes flood management features and applies the best seismic technology there is. We will acquire tunnel boring equipment to hasten the construction period. The Philippine government commits to working on this project 25/8 to get it done at the soonest possible time,” the Finance chief said.

The Philippines’ first subway rail system stretches 30 kilometers. It has 14 stations, from Mindanao Ave. in Quezon City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City, with a provision for a 5-km extension and two additional stations to connect with the Light Rail Transit Line 1.

The subway train is expected to reduce commuting time from Quezon City to the airport to under 40 minutes. The actual construction works is scheduled before the year ends.

Partial operations of the first three stations is expected in 2022, with the whole system to be fully operational by 2025.

“We are targeting May 2022 to begin operation of the first three of the subway stations—Mindanao Avenue-Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora, and North Avenue. The entire Central Zone will be operational by 2025, including the commercial space for the subway stations that will help defray the cost of operating this facility,” Dominguez said.



An estimated 370,000 commuters are expected to benefit each day during the first year of operations of the subway project.

“Previously thought by many to be impossible, today’s milestone in realizing the Philippines’ first subway project is a testament to the adage that bold problems require bold solutions, and that bold solutions require bold and visionary leaders to deliver,” Batan said.

Dominguez noted that in line with the “fast and sure” approach, the Philippine government processed the loan approvals for the project in six months.

“The timely completion of the subway project will crown the aggressive infrastructure program the administration of President Duterte has initiated. It will likewise crown the achievement of the economic diplomacy the Duterte administration has undertaken,” Dominguez said. —VDS, GMA News

Fare hike likely to have pushed Metro ridership to 4-year low, shows data

Last October’s tariff hike appears to have dragged Delhi Metro’s daily average ridership to pre-2015 levels, when trains ran on fewer corridors, spanning around 190 km in length, The Indian Express has learnt. Currently, Delhi Metro’s total network length has crossed the 250-km mark, but the fare hike seems to have forced lakhs of commuters to stop using the signature public transport of one of the world’s most polluted cities.

According to records with the Delhi government, the average daily ridership in the months following the fare hike has dropped by up to 15 per cent as opposed to the previous months.

In the months of October 2017, November 2017, December 2017 and January 2018, an average of 24.2, 24.5 lakh, 22.97 lakh and 23.23 lakh people commuted daily on Yellow Line, Blue Line, Red Line, Green Line and Violet Line collectively. In February, the figure improved marginally to 24.06 lakh. During the first two weeks of March, the average daily ridership has been 20.11 lakh.

The rapid mass transit lost over 2.6 lakh commuters per day last November, 4.23 lakh daily last December, 3.9 lakh commuters daily in January and 3.14 lakh commuters per day in February. The last time the Metro recorded a ridership of 30 lakh was in October 10, 2017, the day Metro’s second phase of fare hike kicked in. The first phase of the hike came into effect in May.

The last time the Metro ridership was this low was in 2013-14 and 2014-15 when the average daily ridership were around 22 lakh and 24 lakh respectively. In 2015-16, it rose to 25.9 lakh, and in 2016-17, it increased further to 27.6 lakh. Till May 2017, Metro transported around 28 lakh passengers daily. Since then, it has largely been a downhill ride. October’s hike bled Metro even further in terms of commuters.

On Wednesday, during the launch of the Pink Line, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had appealed to the Centre to reduce the commuting fares. However, Union Minister Hardeep Puri made it clear that no such rollback was possible.

In a statement, DMRC said that ridership has been going up again since January. “About 24,000 more commuters travelled by the Metro every day in January in comparison to December, 2017. In February, 2018, there was an increase of over 30,000 riders every day. Therefore, the trends for the last two months indicate that ridership is on a upward trend,” the statement said. “The highest ridership achieved in December, 2017, was 25.64 lakhs while in January, 2018, the same figure stood at 26.85 lakhs. The highest ridership in February has been even higher at 26.98 lakhs. Metro’s ridership is generally low in the months of December and January every year because of the holiday season. The same trend could be observed this year also. However, despite the holiday season, January registered a better ridership than the preceding month,” the statement added.

However, if one goes by the ridership trends, such monthly variations are usual and DMRC has a lot of ground to cover if it is to attain ridership levels (discounting the commutership on the corridors such as Magenta Line and Pink Line which were launched after the fare hike) recorded just before the tariff hike.

Last year, in July, August and September, the Metro’s daily average ridership figures were 26.9 lakh, 28.5 lakh and 28.4 lakh, respectively, reflecting a trajectory of sustained growth

Last year, the DMRC had increased its fares twice — in May and October. The current fare structure is: up to 2 km — Rs 10, 2 to 5 km — Rs 20, 5 to 12 km —Rs 30, 12 to 21 km — Rs 40, 21 to 32 km — Rs 50, and for journeys beyond 32 km — Rs 60 .

Japan OKs P51-B loan for PH subway

The rollout of the country’s first subway system moved a step closer as the Japanese government extended a 104.5-billion yen or P51.3-billion loan to finance the initial phase of the flagship infrastructure project.

Japan International Cooperation Agency senior representative Tetsuya Yamada told the Inquirer on Thursday that the first tranche of the loan agreement for the underground railroad to be signed today would be slapped an interest rate of 0.1 percent a year and a repayment period of 40 years, including a 12-year grace period.

While the Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1 is projected to cost P356.9 billion, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe earlier expressed their intention to possibly lend a total of up to 600 billion yen or about P294.8 billion, Yamada said, citing the Japan-Philippines Joint Statement on Bilateral Cooperation for the Next Five Years issued in October.

The subway will be the biggest Philippine infrastructure project to be funded by Japanese official development assistance.

It will connect Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City and Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig City, with a spur line to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The construction of the 36-kilometer subway, whose implementation was green-lighted by the National Economic and Development Authority Board chaired by President Duterte in September, will begin next year.

The subway will be completed by 2025, although three of the 14 stations were targeted to be in operation as early as 2022.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said last month that they planned to fast-track the partial opening of the subway system to the fourth quarter of 2021.

In a statement posted on its website, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) said that the subway “will contribute to relieving serious traffic congestion in Metro Manila by meeting growing transportation demand, as well as easing atmospheric pollution and climate change.”

“The new subway is estimated to transport approximately 500,000 passengers per day in 2027 (two years after the completion of the project), and to reduce the time required for moving from Mindanao Avenue station to FTI station to 30 minutes by express train, where it currently takes approximately two hours by car,” Mofa said.

The project is thus expected to contribute to sustainable economic growth through the promotion of investment in the Philippines, Mofa added.

Documents last month showed that Japan would finance 19 infrastructure projects worth at least P753 billion in support of the Duterte administration’s ambitious “Build, Build, Build” program.

Read more: http://business.inquirer.net/247738/japan-oks-p51-b-loan-ph-subway#ixzz59ypfhaZ2
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