Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Friday said that the construction of the last two stations of the long-delayed MRT 7 project will commence, as the resolution of right-of-way issues faced by the train line connecting Bulacan to Quezon City is 'coming soon'.
In an ambush interview, Dizon said he has met with San Jose Del Monte Bulacan Mayor Arthur Robes, Congresswoman Florida Robes, and the local government of San Jose Del Monte last week and have reached an agreement on the location of the two proposed MRT 7 stations in the area.
"The remaining two stations in San Jose Del Monte, we think that we can begin the construction after so long. It looks like we'll be solving the right-of-way issue," Dizon said.
Dizon expects the whole MRT 7 project to finish by 2028, 11 years after initial construction began in 2017.
"We still have three years. I think it'll be finished by 2028," Dizon added.
Dizon also said that the common station, connecting LRT 1, MRT 3, and MRT 7 will also be finished by mid-2027, its opening coinciding with the opening of the first 12 stations of the rail line from North EDSA to Sacred Heart in Quezon City.
"Our goal is to finish the common station together with MRT 7. By mid-2027, LRT 1, MRT 3, and MRT 7 will be connected finally after almost over a decade," Dizon said.
The MRT 7 project, financed by San Miguel Corporation, was initially planned in 2001 and approved in 2004.
The project, the first to use third rail electrification, is approximately 83 percent complete. Velle White/DMS