MALOLOS CITY (PIA) -- The viaduct of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Phase 1 from Malolos City to Bocaue town in Bulacan is now complete.

The 14-kilometer section traverses newly-constructed railway turnouts in front of the main campus of Bulacan State University in Malolos as well as the municipalities of Guiguinto, Balagtas, and Bocaue where NSCR each has a station.

Transportation Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino said this milestone is in response to the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to fast-track big ticket and high-impact infrastructure projects.

It is attributed to the completion of the installation of fabricated viaducts in major sections of Malolos Crossing, Fausta Road, San Pablo Road, First Bulacan Industrial City, Tabang Bridge traversing Manila North Road in Guiguinto, Balagtas-Pandi Road, and the Bocaue section of the Bocaue-Santa Maria Bypass Road.

Meanwhile, the construction of the Bocaue to Meycauayan City portion is in full swing.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is targeting the completion of the viaduct up to its depot located between the cities of Meycauayan and Valenzuela by the end of 2024.

Aquino disclosed that the construction progress for NSCR Phase 1 or the Tutuban to Malolos segment is 37.30 percent while Phase 2 or the Malolos to Clark International Airport segment is at 25.76 percent.

DOTr targets NSCR Phase 1 to be partially operational from Valenzuela to Malolos by 2027.

The 147-kilometer NSCR System is the largest and longest railway project being completed by the Marcos administration under its Build Better More Infrastructure Program.

Once completed by 2029, it will reduce travel time between Clark International Airport and Calamba City in Laguna from four hours to two hours. (CLJD/SFV-PIA 3)