Metro expects RD$2.4 billion

[NewsWhore]

Engineer Diandino Pena, director of the construction of the second line of the Santo Domingo Metro, has told Hoy that he is expecting a RD$2.4 billion injection to speed up construction works. The project has fallen in arrears with contractors that slowed the pace of construction. These funds will be added to the RD$13 billion the government has allocated to the Metro in the 2011 budget. Pena said this is sufficient to complete works from Km 9 of the Duarte Highway to the station off Sanchez Bridge (Puente de la 17) over the Ozama River. He said this would enable President Fernandez to meet his pledge to legislators that he would inaugurate the second line of the Metro in February 2012. Pena said that 350 engineers have received contracts with the Metro. He said that 13 of the 14 stations and 50% of the tunnels have been opened. Reports are that of the works carried out for RD$3.6 billion on the second line, contractors have only received payments for RD$1.2 billion. The first line of the Metro, Maximo Gomez-Correa Cidron-Independencia is said to transport an average of 25,000 passengers a day, most on round trips.

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