Infracorp eyes 2nd monorail project

The group of tycoon Andrew Tan is hatching a new “Skytrain” or monorail project that would link its pioneering cyberzone Eastwood City in Libis to Santolan Road, easing travel time for commuters.

In a briefing after the conglomerate’s stockholders’ meeting on Tuesday, Alliance Global Group (AGI) Inc. chief operating officer Kingson Sian said the group’s newly formed unit, Infracorp, had held preliminary discussions with local government units that could be involved in the project.

The new monorail project is among those that Infracorp is preparing in its pipeline, Sian said, when asked what other infrastructure ventures the group was considering.

The project will be largely based on the monorail that Infracorp will undertake to connect Megaworld Corp.’s Uptown Bonifacio to the MRT Guadalupe station in Makati.

“The first serves as the model,” Sian said.

The first Skytrain project, which will use the automated cable-propelled monorail technology, was proposed to be built at no cost to the government.

The proposed new Skytrain, however, will traverse a longer distance compared to the 1.88-kilometer Fort Bonifacio-Guadalupe monorail, which is targeted to be operational by 2021.

From Santolan MRT to Eastwood mall, the road distance is about 4.6 km via Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Avenue.  With the rapid development of Libis, Quezon City —once an industrial hub—into a new central business district, the traffic situation going to this area has worsened over the years.

On the proposed P3-billion Fort Bonifacio-Guadalupe Skytrain, Infracorp has obtained the original proponent status.  This means that while this will be subjected to a price challenge, Infracorp will have the right to match the best alternative offer.  The project still needs clearance from the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) board.

Asked about the other groups proposing to lengthen the first Skytrain project and participate in it, like that of Ayala Corp., Sian said Infracorp would focus on the existing alignment first.

“They can come along later, so it will be easier.  We don’t want to complicate things,” Sian said.

He added that it would be a “win-win” situation if groups like Ayala would contribute to the project.

Sian also sees room for both the Skytrain project and the subway system that the Makati LGU would undertake with private sector proponent IRC Properties.

Apart from these transportation projects, Infracorp is also part of the “superconsortium” that has proposed to upgrade the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.