Department aims to complete Unified Central Station Project by 2027
Metro Manila's primary transportation hub, the Unified Grand Central Station (UGCS), is slated for completion by 2027, as announced by the country's Department of Transportation (DOTr) during a Senate hearing on May 27. The timeline aligns with the projected completion of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT7), for which the Korean Railroad Corporation has been tapped to assist.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon emphasized that delaying the completion of the UGCS would negatively impact commuters, as the MRT7 will connect to the common station. He noted that continuing to point fingers and apportion blame would merely prolong the construction process, which is expected to take six months to a year without immediate action.
The UGCS design embraces a shared joint station with the MRT3 and the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1) at the EDSA-North Avenue intersection in Quezon City. In April, SMC, the operator of the MRT7, stated that tests for the trains would be conducted towards the end of 2025, with full operations anticipated in 2026.
The P2.8-billion project was initially awarded to the BF Corporation and Foresight Development and Surveying Company (BFC-FDSC) in 2019, with a target completion date in 2022. However, the project has encountered several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent disruptions to the construction process.
Following an impasse in financing and other obligations, the DOTr had to terminate the contract with BFC-FDSC. The department now seeks a new contractor to expedite the project, with plans to award the contract by Q3 of 2025. Regarding resolving financial disputes, Dizon mentioned that solutions would be found to cater to both the government and the contractors' needs.
Sources: [1] Rappler, [2] CNN Philippines, [3] Inquirer.net, [4] PTV News
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- Delays in the completion of the UGCS could affect the smooth integration of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT7) with the finance sector, as the project requires significant investments to proceed.
- The finance industry may experience a positive impact once the Unified Grand Central Station (UGCS), the transportation hub, is completed, as it would centralize various transportation services, including those provided by the MRT3 and the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1).
