Right-of-way issues will push back the completion and full operations of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) by another two or three years, with only 12 of the 14 stations set to be operational by the end of 2025.
Specifically, the disputed segment is in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, the endpoint of the rail line, according to a Business World report.
“We are looking to operate the Quezon City leg by the last quarter of 2025,” said Secretary Jaime Bautista of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), pertaining to the stretch of the MRT-7 from North Avenue (aka the ‘Unified Grand Central Station’) to Lagro (Sacred Heart Station).
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What has brought on the right-of-way issues?
According to Bautista, the local government in San Jose del Monte has proposed moving the terminus station to another location.
“There are oppositions there, saying it will cause heavy traffic flow,” Bautista said. “I actually had a meeting with the local government because we are really pushing for immediate resolution to the right-of-way issues.
“Because the area is too narrow, there is opposition from building owners. They provided us with options which we are going to study... We will study [these options, but] we are not in a hurry because our target is really to operate up to the Lagro station by 2025.”
When will the MRT-7 be fully operational?
After partial operations spanning 12 stations kick off in 2025, Tala Station should become operational after one year, said Bautista. The 14th station will be completed in 2027 or 2028.
Just before the start of the pandemic, the DOTr said that the rail line would be completed by 2021. In 2022, San Miguel Corporation, which has a 25-year concession agreement to build and operate the MRT-7, began the construction of the depot in San Jose del Monte in 2022.
What are the stations of the MRT-7?
The rail line spans almost 23km, stretching from North EDSA to Bulacan mostly via Commonwealth Avenue. Here are its stations:
- North EDSA (Unified Grand Central Station or Common Station)
- Quezon Memorial Circle
- University Avenue
- Tandang Sora
- Don Antonio
- Batasan
- Manggahan
- Doña Carmen
- Regalado Avenue
- Mindanao Avenue
- Quirino Avenue
- Sacred Heart
- Tala
- San Jose del Monte
