KUALA LUMPUR (March 5): Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) says that the RM55 billion East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is making remarkable progress since its launch in just 13 months given the excellent cooperation between both state and federal agencies.

MRL CEO Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said the rail link, spanning 688km connecting Kelantan to Port Klang, was on schedule for completion in 2024.

“We have made remarkable progress over the past 13 months which also includes the process of giving out jobs to local contractors.

“In six years, the ECRL will be up and running to help balance growth between the east coast and west coast states,” he said in response to questions raised during BNC’s Special Interview aired recently.

Upon completion, ECRL will have one of the world’s most sophisticated train signalling systems, full coverage radio systems, centralised train control and fibre optic cable infrastructure, he said during the programme which can be surfed on www.bernama.com.

Darwis said ECRL set the tone for an economic spin-off and positive social impact for the east coast states.

“It will be a catalyst for economic equality between the west and east coast as it will stimulate investment, spur commercial activities, create ample jobs, facilitate quality education and boost tourism in Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan,” he said.

On the progress made so far, he said, work has commenced on all eight sections from Kota Baru in Kelantan to the Integrated Transport Terminal (ITT) in Gombak under phase 1.

Phase 1 of the project involves the development of 600.3km rail line in four states, starting from Kota Baru to ITT Gombak in Selangor.

The preparatory works include clearing land, earthworks, constructing the rail line foundation, building base and satellite camps, creating road access and erecting embankments.

He said that phase 1 would see the construction of 12 passenger stations, three freight stations and seven combined passenger and freight stations.

“From Kota Baru to Kerteh, there will be five bridges which are 6.3km above ground and viaducts to prevent flooding while the rail line will also cut through the Titiwangsa range to connect to ITT Gombak,” he said.

The second phase involved the development of an 88km rail line from Kota Baru to Pengkalan Kubur in Kelantan and from ITT Gombak to Port Klang in Selangor, he said.

He said phase 2 would have two passenger stations and two combined passenger and freight stations.

Asked how MRL, as project owner, would ensure that jobs would be awarded to Malaysian subcontractors so that construction of ECRL benefits locals, he said, about 30% of the engineering and construction work would be undertaken by local contractors.

Successful applicants in the exercise would be notified to proceed in the subsequent stages leading to the tender submission, he said.

“Preference would be given to the respective states’ registered contractors shortlisted to submit competitive tenders,” he said.

As of end-November 2017, 25 local contractors have been appointed, among them, HSS Integrated Sdn Bhd, which won a RM83 million contract to provide supervising consultancy services for package 1 which covers the first 232km of the ECRL route.

HSS Integrated had previously provided preliminary design consultancy services for the first two phases of the route.

Darwis said that some 30% of civil work packages will be awarded by China Communication Construction Co, the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning, or turnkey contractor, for ECRL, to Malaysian contractors in line with the government’s commitment for local players to tap the ECRL project.

These work packages include site clearing, construction of site offices and worker accommodation, earthworks, formation, drainage, foundation, soil improvement works, roadworks including pavements and street lighting.

They also include building works and tunnelling including blasting, track laying, system and signalling works including substation construction, poles, piers and duct installations as well as signages and traffic management. — Bernama

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on March 5, 2018.

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