By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, July 3 (PNA) –The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) awarded to MRAIL, Inc., a subsidiary of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the contract for another maintenance component of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) on Friday.
DOTC said that the Php 43.23-million six-month contract required MRAIL to maintain the railway line’s power supply and overhead catenary systems (OCS) beginning on July 5.
MRAIL will work with five other companies managing other components namely Rail Tracks and Permanent Ways (Jorgman-Korail-Erin Marty JV), Buildings and Facilities (Global Epcom Services, Inc.), Communication Systems (Trilink Technologies, Inc.), Ticketing System (Future Logic Corporation), and Rolling Stocks, Depot Equipment, and Signaling (Schunk Bahn-und Industrietechnik GmbH – Comm Builders & Technology Phils. Corp. JV) to fulfill the MRT-3’s daily operating requirements.
The agency noted that under the multi-disciplinary approach, day-to-day repair works and the supply of spare parts of sub-contractors would be made more efficient until the long-term maintenance provider was procured.
At present, DOTC is seeking the approval of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) to proceed with an alternative mode of procurement for the three-year maintenance contract.
Earlier, bidding for the contract last September 2014 and January 2015 failed for lack of bidders.
DOTC is meanwhile working on other major MRT-3 rehabilitation and improvement projects, including the addition of 48 new train cars. The prototype, set to address long commuter lines, is set to arrive in mid-August this year.
The agency has also procured over 7,000 lineal meters of new rails to replace the worn-out segments of the line’s tracks to enhance passengers’ safety.
Other improvements include the signaling system replacement, general train overhauling, the upgrading of ancillary systems, the new tap-and-go ticketing system, and the rehabilitation of the line’s bathrooms. (PNA)