The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to sign today, October 1, a contract for the detailed architectural and engineering design of the P59.3-billion Metro Rail Transit line 4 (MRT-4) project that will connect eastern Metro Manila with the province of Rizal.
DOTr said it will sign a contract agreement with Spain-based design consultant IDOM Consulting Engineering, Architecture, SA to start the project’s design stage in the fourth quarter of 2021.
The mobilization of the project began after DOTr issued IDOM the notice of award last September 17.
IDOM will prepare the preliminary design, detailed engineering and tender designs, loan processing documents, financial and economical assessments, project/loan safeguards documents, and bidding documents for the MRT-4 project.
Under the agreement, IDOM is also tasked to determine the proper mode of transportation along the alignment and provide the methodology on ridership validation.
Funded by an official development assistance from the Asian Development Bank, the MRT-4 is a proposed railway mass-transit system intended to serve and connect the eastern part of Metro Manila, including the highly populated areas of Rizal.
The 15.56-kilometer railway will cut across the cities of Mandaluyong, San Juan, Quezon, Pasig and the municipalities of Cainta and Taytay in Rizal, addressing the massive traffic problem and limited road capacities in the over-populated areas of eastern Metro Manila, DOTr said.
Once operational, the MRT-4 project will see an uptick in employment opportunities, livelihood and business opportunities for Filipinos, it added.
The start of early works is scheduled for the second quarter of 2022, according to DOTr.
The project aims to address the worsening traffic condition and inadequate road capacities in the densely populated areas of eastern Metro Manila, including parts of Quezon City, San Juan City, Mandaluyong City, Pasig City and the Ortigas Center. – Myla Iglesias
