The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said over the weekend it is accelerating the right-of-way acquisition for the construction of the EDSA Greenways Project.
The agency said it acquired a total of 3,064 square meters or 54.16 percent of 5,657 sq. m. of property for the project.
It also approved resettlement action plans for all stations covering the EDSA Greenways Project as part of the transport agency’s social mechanism for transport projects,
It said 148 individuals who would be affected by the project were enrolled under the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) livelihood assistance program.
The DOTr earlier signed an agreement with Smart Communications Inc. to relocate the telco’s utilities and cables affected by the construction of elevated walkways on the main thoroughfare, including footbridges in Balintawak, Cubao, Guadalupe and Taft.
The pedestrian structures seek to address the needs of the elderly, persons with disabilities (PWDs), women and people travelling with children by connecting MRT and LRT stations to it.
Aimed at resolving inadequacies in the country’s infrastructure which hinder national development, growth from initiatives under the nationwide “Build Better More” program is expected to make the economy more resilient, make trade more efficient, help fund more infrastructure projects and uplift the standard of living in the country.
The EDSA Greenways Project aims to improve the pedestrian environment by building elevated pedestrian walkways along the busiest thoroughfare in Metro Manila, specifically in Balintawak and Cubao in Quezon City, Guadalupe in Makati City and Taft Ave. in Pasay City.
Once completed, the EDSA Greenways Project will connect pedestrians and commuters to mass transit stations to help promote the use of public transport.