KOTA KINABALU: A proposal to build railway tracks from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat at an estimated cost of RM5 billion is still at the planning stage.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said a study would be conducted along with the proposal to build a statewide railway system to service wider areas including the interior and the east coast region.
"An allocation of RM1 million has been provided for this study under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP). This research project will be implemented early next year 2022," he said in his winding up speech at the State Assembly sitting.
On the railway track upgrading works from Halogilat to Tenom, he said the project was never cancelled and is now at the final stage of completion.
The project, which costs RM49.5 million, is funded by the federal government via the Transport Ministry.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the unpredictable weather at the construction site, Bung Moktar explained, had caused some delays, but the project expected to be ready by the end of this year.
In the efforts to upgrade the entire railway track, he said, works were being done to improve the 1.8km-long Tenom railway track by the state Railway Department.
Bung Moktar, who is also the state works minister, said the project, estimated at about RM5 million, was expected to be completed in October 2022.
However, he said the proposed railway track connecting Tenom and Melalap, which would cost about RM50 million to implement, had been cancelled.
The cancelled project had been replaced with others including the procurement of one locomotive, six units of diesel multiple unit (DMU), semi automated tamping machine, composite sleepers and shuttle bus, which would boost efficiency, safety and consistency of the Railway Department to benefit more train commuters in the state.