Shopping mall giant SM Prime Holdings Inc. said it is in talks with the Light Rail Transit Authority for the construction of an additional station for the LRT-1 North Extension project.

The project situated between the proposed Roosevelt and North Avenue stations, is one of the top priority projects of President Arroyo under the Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region.

Estimated to cost around P5.98 billion, the project involves the construction, including the detailed designed of a 5.71-kilometer elevated line from Monumento station of LRT Line 1 to North Avenue of Metro Rail Transit 3, two new intermediate stations (Balintawak and Roosevelt) and a terminal station (Line 1, North Avenue Station).

The North Extension Project aims to extend the LRT Line 1 to the North, through the construction of a 5.4 kilometer elevated line from the Monumento station to the North Avenue station of MRT 3 to close the EDSA loop.

Construction of the project is expected to begin in 2008 with target completion in April 2010. once running, the LRT North extension is expected to serve about 8000,000 to one million passenger.