THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it is expediting the relocation of residents in the path of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), with the first 360 families to be rehoused within the year.
In a statement on Wednesday, the DoTr said it eventually plans to build 82 three-story buildings for affected families, with the first 12 such structures ready to accommodate the initial families before the year ends.
Last month, the DoTr said it hopes to issue the bid documents for the NSCR operations and maintenance (O&M) contract in October.
The DoTr concluded the roadshow for the P229.32-billion O&M contract, which included stops in Singapore and Paris.It hopes to award the concession by March or April.
The 147-kilometer NSCR will connect Malolos, Bulacan with Clark International Airport, and Tutuban, Manila with Calamba, Laguna. The P873-billion project is co-financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Asian Development Bank. It will have 35 stations and three depots.
According to the DoTr, the Valenzuela to Malolos segment will be partially operational by 2027, while the Malolos to Clark segment could start operations by 2028. — Ashley Erika O. Jose