Construction work on RM36bil project set to start in July

KUALA LUMPUR: The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project, aimed at solving Greater KL/Klang Valley’s transportation woes, has been approved and will start rolling out in July. Its first line will be from Sungai Buloh to Kajang.

Covering some 60km and 35 stations, this is the first of several MRT lines that will criss-cross the heart of the nation where some 10 million people are expected to live by 2020.

The first line will run through the city centre and integrate with the KTM Komuter, and the Kelana Jaya and Ampang LRT lines. It will serve some 1.2 million commuters and run through areas such as Kota Damansara, Mutiara Damansara, Bandar Utama, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Bukit Damansara, Cheras, Bandar Tun Hussein Onn and Balakong.

Calling it the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the country, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the project, estimated to cost some RM36bil, will be Government-owned and not privatised to any company.

● Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd will own the MRT;

● MMC-Gamuda JV Sdn Bhd will only manage the project as Project Delivery Partner;

● A governance programme will monitor the project for cost and transparency; and

● All contract work packages will be awarded through open tender