KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will officiate the much anticipated groundbreaking for the Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) Line 2 at Putrajaya Sentral tomorrow.
Mass Rapid Transit Corp (MRT Corp) Sdn Bhd strategic communications and stakeholder relations director Datuk Najmuddin Abdullah said the launch would mark the start of “real work” for the SSP Line.
The 52.2km SSP Line of which 13.5km is underground, will serve a corridor with a population of around two million people stretching from Sungai Buloh to Putrajaya.
It will serve Sri Damansara, Kepong, Batu, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Tun Razak Exchange, Kuchai Lama, Seri Kembangan and Cyberjaya.
There will be 37 stations, including 11 underground stations between Sentul East and Bandar Malaysia (south).
“The MRT project is very close to the prime minister’s heart.
“He has visited the SBK Line five times since construction started to ensure that the project is delivered within budget and on time.
“He monitors the progress of the SSP Line very closely,” said Najmuddin at a media briefing here, yesterday.
MRT Corp has awarded 23 work packages worth RM24 billion for the SSP Line. Up to 50 smaller packages worth RM8 billion collectively will be awarded between now and the end of next year.
Najmuddin said site clearing had started.
Phase 1 of the SSP Line from Sungai Buloh to Kg Batu is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2021, while the second phase from Kg Batu to Putrajaya Sentral will be completed a year later.
The line is expected to have daily ridership of 529,000 upon its full completion, which will ease traffic congestion.
SSP is part of the Klang Valley mass rapid transit project.
The project, the country’s largest infrastructure development, comprises three lines that will serve as the backbone of the integrated public transport network for the Klang Valley.
The project comprises the Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) Line 1, Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line 2 and the Circle Line.
Construction of the SBK Line (51km) started in 2011 and is 89 per cent completed.
Phase 1 of the SBK Line from Sungai Buloh to Semantan will be operational effective Dec 15, two weeks ahead of schedule and within budget. Phase 2 from Semantan to Kajang will be operational by July.
Overall, the construction cost
for the SBK Line is RM23 billion, while for the SSP Line, it is RM32 billion.