Putrajaya 'quite receptive' to MRT3 proposal after reduced cost, says report

KUALA LUMPUR (May 4): Putrajaya and Gamuda Bhd “are understood to have been in talks” about reviving Mass Rapid Transit Line 3 (MRT3) at a much lower price, reported The Edge Malaysia.

The report said that “the parties are discussing halving the MRT3’s earlier cost of RM45 billion, or about RM22.5 billion”.

A source told the weekly that: “The government is quite receptive to the MRT3 proposal, after the reduced cost.”

The weekly however, could not obtain details of the plans being discussed, “or what will enable Gamuda to slash the price”.

A second source said “the ongoing negotiations may conclude late this year”.

The business publication said one of the reasons for reviving the MRT3 is the increased ridership of MRT1 after the government introduced an unlimited 30-day RM100 pass

The 40km MRT3 was originally planned to pass through Kerinchi, Jalan Duta, Setiawangsa, Salak Selatan, Pandan Indah and Bandar Malaysia via underground rail tracks.

MRT1 was built at RM21 billion and started operations in July 2017 while the construction cost of MRT2 was reduced by 22.4% to RM30.53 billion after the Pakatan Harapan government took over Putrajaya.