PHL extends anew deadline for MRT-3 train supply bid

Bidders have two more weeks make final their bids for the P3.8-billion supply contract for 48 new light rail trains for the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT3), the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said Friday.

 

In a General Bid Bulletin, Transportation Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla gave the prospective investors until next month. “In order to give ample time for the bidders to study the section and prepare their bidding documents, the opening and submission of bids for the project is moved to June 11,” Lotilla noted.

 

This is the fourth time this particular bidding has been rescheduled from the original bid date of March 22.

 

Two interested companies were Sumitomo Corp. of Japan and CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive of China. 

 

The Czech Republic also proposed to sell the trains to the Philippine government under a concessional loan scheme through overseas development assistance. (ODA).

 

Nearly 600,000 passengers patronize the MRT-3, which runs on a 16.9-kilometer track Along EDSA from North Ave. in Quezon City to Taft Ave. in Pasay City, using a fleet of 73 Czech-made trains at three-minute intervals during peak hours.

 

Once the re-fleeting program is complete, DOTC said the MRT-3 would have four-car trains arriving in each station every 2 minutes and  30 seconds. — VS, GMA News