KUALA LUMPUR: MyHSR Corp Sdn Bhd is launching two tenders to procure the services of consultants to assist with regulatory submissions to the relevant authorities, following the government's announcement to resume discussions on the Kuala Lumpur – Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project.
MyHSR said the two separate tenders are for the appointment of the Section 4 (S.4) Land Consultant and the Environmental, Social and Heritage Impact Assessment Consultant for the HSR project.
It said deliverable from both sets of consultants will form part of the regulatory process as prescribed by the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715).
It said the S.4 (Act 486) Land Acquisition Plan and Land Acquisition Plan booklet as well as the Environmental Impact Assessment will be displayed to the public during the requisite Railway Scheme Public Inspection process planned for early next year.
MyHSR Corp chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal said the company encourages local firms with relevant experience to participate in the tenders to provide expertise and assist on the land acquisition, environmental, social, and the heritage impact assessment activities.
"These activities are a critical precursor component for the project and have significant impact to the overall delivery of the HSR project.
"The ensuing S.4 gazettement of a corridor width of 500 meters will facilitate additional works for the project, such as soil investigation and utility mapping, which will allow
further refinement of the HSR alignment prior to the land acquisition exercise.
"Meanwhile, the planned environmental, social and heritage impact assessments will identify the potential sensitive receptors along the project corridor and mitigation
measures will be proposed to minimise the environmental, social and heritage impacts," he said.
On May 31, the Malaysian and Singaporean governments have agreed to resume discussions on the HSR infrastructure project.
The proposed 350 kilometre-long HSR line, originally estimated to cost US$17 billion, aims to reduce travel time between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to around 90 minutes, from the current 11 hours on existing train services.
It was among several mega projects approved by the Barisan Nasional administration that came under review after the Pakatan Harapan administration took over.
Last September, Singapore and Malaysia formally agreed to postpone the construction of the HSR until end-May 2020, with Malaysia having to pay Singapore S$15 million for costs incurred in suspending the project.