ADB to invest in the completion of NSTR in the Philippines
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) continues its commitment to the largest infrastructure investment it has ever financed, supporting the construction of nearly 55 kilometers of modern suburban rail line to complete the South Commuter Railway in the Philippines, the last section of the North-South Commuter Railway, the 163-kilometer (km) urban rail transit system designed to connect New Clark City in Tarlac Province in the north to Calamba City in Laguna in the south.
The project, which will be co-financed with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will have a budget provided by the ADB of $4.3 billion. The multilateral funder has already co-financed with JICA the 109-kilometer northern section of the North-South Communters Railway, playing an active role in restoring and renovating the existing tracks for safe use, upgrading them to the design speed of 75 km/h, and allowing a maximum allowable axle load of 15 tons.
Scheduled to be operational by 2025, the South Commuter Railway will connect Metro Manila with Laguna province.
The ABD-funded infrastructure includes civil works for the railway viaduct, 18 stations, bridges, tunnels and storage buildings. These will be designed to be disaster-resistant and able