DOTr eyes Unified Grand Central Station completion by Q2 2027

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is targeting to complete the construction of the Unified Grand Central Station (UGCS) Project—a common station linking three major rapid transit lines in Metro Manila—by the second quarter of 2027.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez bared this in his keynote speech at the Management Association of the Philippines’ general membership meeting in Taguig City on Wednesday.

“Last year, we had to terminate the contractor and we had to talk to LRMC [Light Rail Manila Corporation] and Sumitomo to take over the construction of the common station,” Lopez said.

“We are really targeting the second quarter of 2027. Why? For the simple reason that the partial operations of MRT-7 will also start on the second quarter of 2027,” he said.

In March last year, the DOTr terminated the agreement with BF Corporation and Foresight Development and Surveying Company (BFC-FDSC) Consortium, which was tapped to build the UGCS for LRT-1, MRT-3, and MRT-7 due to excessive delays.

The UGCS project aims to establish a common station linking the three major railways to facilitate seamless passenger transfer to road-based transport systems. 

Last month, the Economy and Development (ED) Council, chaired by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., approved the termination of the existing Investment Coordination Committee approval of the UGCS project.

The ED Council’s action is necessary to formally close the current project approval following the termination of the design-and-build contract and the determination that completion under the same contractual arrangement is no longer feasible.

The council’s decision will also facilitate the orderly contract close-out, address pending obligations, and allow the transition to an alternative delivery approach that can help reduce further delays and advance the completion of the remaining project components.

With this, Lopez explained that the Transportation Department is now working with DEPDev on the “variation” process for the project, which would allow it to continue the UGCS under a revised cost structure and implementing arrangements.

“Once this common station becomes operational, we are expecting 1.5 million passengers daily. We are hoping to have this finished by the second quarter of 2027,” Lopez said. — BM, GMA News