KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 23:
Even as the first line of the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project closes in on its half-way point towards completion by end-2016, MRT Corporation Sdn Bhd is already looking at how the next two MRT lines will be integrated towards providing a seamless rail service within this network and other public transport systems.
Based on the corridor outlined by SPAD, which is awaiting Cabinet approval, the MRT Line 2 is expected to run from Sg Buloh and along Jalan Kepong before being aligned with Jalan Ipoh to KLCC.
This MRT LIne 2 will then traverse the Pandan area and pass the The Mines into Serdang near University Putra Malaysia before ending at Putrajaya.
In the meantime, work on MRT Line 1 is proceeding well and project director Marcus Levon Karakashian said good progress has been made in terms of its physical infrastructure and that the development is on budget.
Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) has to date paid out a total of RM8.026 billion for the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line as construction for the project approaches its midway point.
The bulk or 83% of that sum, amounting to RM6.655 billion, was paid out to work package contractors for the construction of MRT Line 1.
The remainder was for fees and reimbursable to project delivery partner MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) Sdn Bhd, fees to the independent consulting engineer, MRT Corp overheads and insurance, said Azhar.
To date, he said 77 of the total 85 contracts have been awarded, with a total value of RM21,087 billion. One tender is currently being called while tenders for the remaining seven work packages have yet to be called.
"We expect to complete our procurement process by awarding the remaining seven work packages be end of the year."
On the progress of the MRT Sungai-Buloh Kajang Line, he said construction is now at 47.63%. The status for the underground section was 63.34% while the elevated section was 37.24%.
"The cost of construction underground is in fact higher. The reason not as fast as there are land issues. Secondly, we also have to deal with other utilities and cables/pipes underground.
"That's why we take our time. But having said that the progress has been good. The first phase link from Sg Buloh until Semantan is still fixed by end for December 2016.
"For the elevated section, 95% of piling work for the elevated guideway has been completed while 35% of the guideway has been constructed."
With construction of the project almost at 50%, MRT Corp has incurred variation orders amounting to less than RM200 million, or about 0.87% of the value of the awarded contracts, he added.
Chief executive officer Datuk Wira Azhar Abdul Hamid said there are no plans to list the company as a project infrastructure company in the foreseeable future.
"I don't think a company like MRT Corp will be moving to listing simply because we are the owner and developer of this infrastructure. Under the current scenario, we only embark on what the govermment has asked us to carry out."
As for its Line three integration which will run from Bandar Utama towards Klang, he said: "As far as Line 3 is concerned, we need to undertake a lot of planning. So far we have not had any discussions yet."
Expressing his concern on the proposed third MRT line, he said: "I don't see it happening. The longer we take, the more costs will be incurred. And we want to make sure that this integration is done well. We need to plan this very well.
"Whether the integration happens or not, we will not delay the MRT Line 1 project."