A common station linking the Light Rail Transit and the Metro Rail Transit has been a bone of contention for the major players in the rail transport industry. An agreement palatable to opposing groups is on the way.
Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade is moving heaven and earth to get Metro Manila’s mass transport system working efficiently as soon as possible. This includes making it more convenient for commuters to take a ride on either train system which will be linked through a common station in Quezon City. However, the site of the common station has been a problem. One group wants it located near SM North EDSA while another group wants it placed near Ayala’s Trinoma Mall. Four major players — SM Prime Holdings, Ayala Land Inc., San Miguel Corp, and the Metro Pacific or the Manuel V. Pangilinan Group — have staked interests on where the common station would be built. Meanwhile, there is a case in the Supreme Court filed by the SM Holdings which also is tied to where the common station would be finally located. Secretary Tugade claims he has been having talks and meetings with top executives from the four major players and they are close to finalizing an agreement on the common station and how this would link the LRT and MRT. He is expecting the agreement to be finalized in a meeting scheduled for September 28. Executives from the major player revealed that an agreement has been reached in principle and that only technical details are left be threshed out.
Post time: Jun-17-2017