The Light Rail Transit Authority said Monday the P2.27-billion LRT Line 2 Masinag Extension will start partial operations on April 27 this year.
LRTA spokesperson Hernando Cabrera said the extension project, spanning from Marikina Station to Antipolo Station, would be inaugurated on April 26 and commence partial operations the next day.
The project had a 96.29-percent progress rate as of Jan. 31, 2021.
The government earlier awarded the construction of LRT 2 Masinag Extension project to D.M. Consunji Inc. for P2.27 billion. The project involves adding 4.2 kilometers to LRT 2 from the Santolan Station at Marcos Highway, Pasig to the intersection of Marcos and Sumulong highways in Masinag, Antipolo.
It is expected to cut travel time from three hours via bus or jeepney to just 40 minutes via rail transit. It also aims to increase the rail line’s ridership by 80,000 passengers daily.
Once completed, the project would provide commuters from Manila to Antipolo a more comfortable, convenient and better train ride experience, according to LRTA.
Meanwhile, Department of Transportation-railways sector project development officer Anna Tayag said the partial operations of LRT-Line 1 (Cavite) Extension Project Package 1 would start in the fourth quarter of 2020.
The 11.7-kilometer LRT-1 Cavite Extension project, which will extend LRT line 1 from Baclaran to Niog, Bacoor in Cavite, is expected to reduce travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor from 1 hour and 10 minutes to 25 minutes.
It is also expected to increase the line’s capacity to serve 500,000 to 800,000 passengers daily.
The remaining stations between Las Piñas and Niog are scheduled to become fully operational by 2022.
LRMC won the bidding for the 11.7-km. Cavite extension project and took over the operation of LRT Line 1 on Sept. 12, 2015.
