The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has committed to proceed with the bidding of the operation and maintenance contract of the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) to further improve passenger safety and convenience.
This follows the recent incident on March 8, where the escalator on Taft Station malfunctioned due to issues with its main drive chain, resulting in injuries to 10 MRT passengers.
The DOTr, in collaboration with its maintenance provider Sumitomo Corp., has successfully repaired the escalator which was reopened and was fully operational as of 5:33 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11.
“This event reinforces the commitment to the privatization of transportation infrastructure, such as the MRT-3, to enhance safety and convenience for commuters,” the DOTr said in a statement on March 11.
The DOTr said it will cover medical expenses of those affected, while the insurance company will assess and approve compensation for lost income due to the incident.
MRT-3 is expected to increase its capacity by 30 percent with the deployment of a four-car train in June, according to the DOTr.
As of February this year, MRT-3’s ridership has ranged from 430,000 to 450,000 passengers on weekdays, as compared to an average of 375,474 passengers in 2024.
The DOTr has tapped Asian Development Bank and International Finance Corp., as advisors to finalize the terms and references for the bidding of rail projects.
