Estimated cost of MRT project in Klang Valley to be known in May

KUALA LUMPUR: The construction cost of the entire Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) urban transport project in the Klang valley will be known in May, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Tuesday, Mar 15.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the total cost of the MRT project in the Klang Valley, including land acquisitions, underground work and construction costs are currently in the baseline design review and employer requirements process.

He added that feedback and recommendations from the proposed project that has been displayed for the public until May 14, would play an important role in determining the overall cost of the project.

"We will know the full picture later as the project is still at the public display stage. This will end in the mid-May. From the feedback, we will then consider the cost elements.

"Right now, Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd as the owner of the project and MRT assets, are carrying out a pre-qualification for contractors," he said when answering a question by Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong) here on Tuesday.

Tan had wanted to know the overall estimated cost of the MRT project in the Klang valley, companies that have submitted tenders and at what stage was the project.

Nazri said tenders for works to be carried out for the project would be opened once the estimated cost and project needs were finalised.

Meanwhile, speaking of the official visit by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to MTR Corporation in Hong Kong in January 2011, Nazri said the delegation comprised eight members, including SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, and incurred a cost of RM65,206.

He said through the visit, the delegation was able to learn and gather information of the rail model, land and ways to reduce the construction cost of the project.

"They were also able to gather information of how to build underground tunnels and ways to overcome the challenges faced in the construction of the project.

"The visit was also an important learning process of how the integration process was carried out with commercial properties, planning, operation, maintenance and communication," he said when answering a question by Loke Siew Fook (DAP-Rasah) who wanted to know the benefits, members of the delegation and cost of SPAD's visit to Hong Kong. — Bernama