The Department of Transportation on Thursday inaugurated the P4.5-billion LRT-2 East Extension Project that is expected to ease traffic congestion in Marikina, Pasig and Antipolo City starting July 6.
President Rodrigo Duterte, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Light Rail Transit Authority administrator Reynaldo Berroya led the inauguration of the line.
Tugade said the promise of a “better commuting experience” is now a “reality” with the start of the operations of the LRT-2 East Extension Project on July 6 this year.
The LRT-2 East Extension Project added 3.793 kilometers to the 13.8-kilometer LRT-2 train line. It connects Recto in Manila to Antipolo City, Rizal. The extended line will have two new stations—Marikina and Antipolo stations.
LRT 2 trains would also be increased to eight from the previous five. Once operational, the LRT-2 East Extension Project will cut travel time from Claro M. Recto in Manila to Masinag in Antipolo from three hours by bus or jeepney to just 30 to 40 minutes.
It will also increase the rail line’s average daily passenger capacity from 240,000 to 320,000 and help reduce traffic congestion along Marcos Highway, especially in Marikina, Pasig and Antipolo as road transport passengers would be encouraged to ride the train.
More than 1,800 jobs were generated during the construction of the LRT-2 East Extension Project. The DOTR said 170 rail personnel would be employed to work in the two new stations.
The extension project has been a part of the Master Plan for Metro Manila since 1999. The project was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority’s board on Sept. 4, 2012, and construction of viaducts started in April 2015.
Actual and full blast construction of the two new stations (Marikina-Pasig and Antipolo) started on Feb. 20, 2017 with a contract amount of P1.1 billion, while the P3.4 billion electromechanical systems contract was awarded on Dec. 14, 2018.