Major infra projects face delay

The completion of several major infrastructure projects may be delayed due to right-of-way issues, the transfer of utilities and budget constraints, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

These projects include the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Malolos-Clark Railway project that is part of the North and South Commuter Railway (NSCR), EDSA Greenway and the 103-kilometer Mindanao Railway.

The first phase of the P8.5-billion EDSA Greenway project was set to be operational last year, but this will be pushed back to 2027 or 2028, Cesar Chavez, DOTr undersecretary for railways, said at the Senate budget hearing.

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Chavez, however, assured construction of the project will continue but that the DOTr will have to ask the National Economic and Development Authority to extend the timeline for its completion due to issues on the relocation of utilities.

Chavez added the agency is talking to 16 utility providers on EDSA where relocation works of utilities are allowed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

“We are trying to fast-track, it’s a 5-kilometer walkway in five locations. The problem is the relocation of the utilities. We can work at certain times in the evening,” said Jaime Bautista, DOTr secretary.

The 5-km walkway will traverse a portion of the 23.8-km highway and will connect pedestrian networks to train stations on EDSA, including Balintawak, Cubao, Guadalupe and Taft.

Meanwhile, the Malolos, Bulacan to Clark, Pampanga segment of the NSCR project is expected to be partially operational by 2027, said Chavez.

Phase 1 of the Cebu BRT project, on the other hand, is targeted to be completed by December and is set to start operating by early 2024. The initial target was in 2021, the DOTr said.

The delay in construction was due to the changes in project scope and the increasing passenger demand, then aggravated by the coronavirus quarantines.

The 13.2-km BRT lane will traverse the South Road Properties through Mambaling. It will have 17 stations, two terminals and one depot.

For the Mindanao Railway, Chavez said DOTr requested for a budget of P5 billion from the Department of Budget and Management for the right-of-way acquisition, but this was rejected.

Still, the agency will push through with the project as it was one of those identified as priority by the government, he said.

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