Manila Metro Rail Transit Line 7 opening deadline extended due to construction delay

Manila, Philippines (Metro Rail Today): The construction of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) in the Philippines is experiencing another delay due to right-of-way (ROW) issues in its Bulacan section. This setback pushes the expected completion date to 2027 at the earliest.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC), the developer of MRT-7, may need to realign the Bulacan segment of the railway following a request from the local government of San Jose del Monte. Last week, local officials from San Jose del Monte urged Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to change the alignment of the Bulacan section. The officials cited the tightness of the current area and the impact on many buildings, which has led to opposition from building owners.

Secretary Bautista stated that this potential alteration in alignment could delay the full operation of MRT-7 until as late as 2028. However, he assured that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) would expedite securing the ROW for the Bulacan stretch as quickly as possible.

Despite these challenges, Bautista committed to opening the Quezon City network of MRT-7 by 2025. This part of the line, stretching from North Avenue to Lagro, will provide an additional mass transit option for commuters in Metro Manila’s largest city. The target is to complete the Tala Station in Caloocan City by 2026 and the San Jose del Monte Station by 2027 or 2028.

Bautista said, "We are looking at operating the Quezon City leg by the last quarter of 2025. That is the stretch from North Avenue to Lagro. We can no longer finish Bulacan by 2025."

By the end of 2025, commuters should be able to use 12 stations of the MRT-7. The entire line will extend approximately 22 kilometers from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan and will consist of 14 stations once fully built. It is projected to carry more than 800,000 passengers daily. SMC will operate the railway through a 25-year concession with the government.

The southernmost stop at North Avenue will be connected to the Unified Grand Central Station, a project designed to link Light Rail Transit Line 1, Metro Rail Transit Line 3, and MRT-7. Similar to the MRT-7 project, the Unified Grand Central Station is also facing issues that have delayed its completion to late this year or early 2025.