East-coast’s GDP expected to rise 1.5% with ECRL

KUALA LUMPUR (April 11): The construction of the high-impact East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) in Kelantan is progressing slightly ahead of schedule, according to Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) which is optimistic of the economic spin-offs that the connection will bring to the region. 

In a statement today, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) chief executive officer Datuk Sri Darwis Abdul Razak (pictured) said out of 2,951 respondents in Kelantan, 79% of them had endorsed the Kota Bharu-Wakaf Bharu-Pengkalan Kubor alignment during the recent three-month Public Inspection for Phase 2 of the ECRL. 

The Kota Bharu-Jelawat-Tok Bali alignment had already been approved by regulator Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD) under the ECRL Railway Scheme for Phase 1 in June 2017. 

Darwis said MRL is optimistic that SPAD would soon provide approval for Phase 2. “We are all geared up to facilitate preparatory works such as land clearing, soil investigation and earthworks for the extended alignment from the Kelantan state capital to the Thai border under Phase 2.” 

Multiple viaducts and bridges totaling about 20km in length would be built in Kelantan to facilitate passenger trains and locomotives to bypass flood areas and rivers. 

Darwis said that MRL, together with ECRL’s main contractor China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), have been making steady progress in the state as seen by the land acquisition process, building of base and satellite camps along the alignment, batching plants, as well as access roads to construction sites. 

“Full scale infrastructure works for Phase 1 in Kelantan would commence from April 2018 onwards, while Phase 2 is expected to follow suit in a matter of months. At such an accelerated pace, MRL is confident for the construction of both phases of the ECRL in Kelantan to be completed simultaneously before 2024.

“The ECRL will be able to connect key industrial development areas, including Tok Bali and Kota Bharu, hence providing greater market competitiveness for businesses, as well as creating employment opportunities for the Kelantanese. Therefore, we look forward to fully operate this infra-rakyat project, which is a catalyst for economic equality between the west coast and east coast of Peninsular Malaysia by mid-2024.” 

An estimated 80,000 jobs are expected to be created by the project, which is also projected to raise the gross domestic product of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang by 1.5%. 

The ECRL’s groundbreaking ceremony was today officiated by Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak at the Kota Bharu station site in Bandar Baru Tunjong. — theedgemarkets.com

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