GEORGE TOWN: Penang has received eight submissions from local and international consortiums for the Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT) project pre-qualification exercise.
The pre-qualification registration exercise for the LRT project, which was conducted from July 25 to Aug 19, and further extended to Oct 7, saw 45 companies registering interest and purchasing the pre-qualification documents.
The aim of the pre-qualification exercise was to identify and pre-qualify suitable contractors to participate in the RFP (Request For Proposal) tender process for the engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of the LRT's viaducts, stations, depot, system and other associated works, as well as the funding, operation and maintenance of the LRT system.
For the pre-qualification stage, interested companies were required to submit their company profile, details of their key personnel, past and current projects, the contractual relationship of members in their respective consortiums or joint ventures, financial information, funding model, proposed implementation plan and other supporting documents.
State Infrastructure and Transport Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said by the end of the submission deadline on Oct 7, they received eight submissions from local and international consortiums.
"Evaluation of the submissions is currently being carried out by the technical and financial committees.
"A report will be prepared and presented to the tender committee, followed by the procurement committee. The committees will identify qualified entities to be formally invited to participate in the RFP exercise. The RFP tender is expected to open in early next year.
"The qualified entities will be given four months to prepare their RFP proposals for submission. Thereafter, the evaluation of the proposals is expected to take three months, after which a report will be prepared for the tender and procurement committees for final decision.
"The construction of the LRT is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of next year, subject to the federal authorities' approval of the last segment of the LRT line involving the location of the LRT depot on the reclaimed Penang South Islands," he said today.
Zairil said based on feedback from the survey conducted during the ongoing Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) roadshows, held in various location since May 2022 to date, 98 per cent out of 1,012 respondents were supportive of the project and many had expressed their eagerness for the LRT to be implemented soon.
"It is important for the LRT to be an efficient and financially sustainable project.
"Despite various obstacles, including the lack of financial assistance from the federal government, the Penang government is determined to push ahead to deliver the LRT as a reliable public transport system for the people of Penang," he added.
Penang had proposed a LRT as part of its multibillion ringgit PTMP project.
The state is looking to implement the PTMP, which will comprise a LRT, three paired roads and an undersea tunnel to solve traffic problems.