KUALA LUMPUR: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has reached 52.9 per cent completion and is on track to be completed by 2027, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said as of this year, main construction works such as beam launching, structural works and track laying are actively being carried out along the ECRL line.
Loke added that the ECRL project from Kota Baru, Kelantan to Gombak is set to be completed on Dec 31, 2026, while Gombak to Port Klang stretch is expected to be completed by Dec 31, 2027.
"Following this, the tunnel borring works for the first tunnel in Genting has reached 3.1 kilometres (km), while the second Genting tunnel has reached 4.29 km.
"At the same time, a total of 25 tunnels have been penetrated as of Aug 25, including 21 tunnels in Section A and B of the project, while the remaining four in Section C," he said.
Loke said this during his ministry winding-up session on the 12th Malaysian Plan (12MP) mid-term review in Dewan Rakyat, today.
Meanwhile, he added the ECRL corridor would have an agglomeration (assemblage) effect which could increase job opportunities, as well as serve as an economic centre to stimulate economic growth.
At the same time, Loke said the project site had also been finalised and approved by related technical agencies, with over 70 per cent completion.
He said through studies conducted by hydrology and hydraulics consultants on past situations of floods in the area, ECRL developers had found the area to be prone to flood.
"Following this, they proposed an optimal design, by taking into account technical aspects, value engineering and flood risk in the area.
"The ministry will also ensure that the project's main developer, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), alongside its main contractor, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) maintains public safety during project implementation."
In 2019, MRL and CCCC signed a supplementary agreement that resumes the suspended ECRL project, at a lower price.
The new ECRL alignment is now shortened by 40km from 688km to 648km, as it no longer tunnels through the Titiwangsa Main Range that borders Selangor and Pahang.
It starts from Kota Baru in Kelantan and runs south through Mentakab, Jelebu, Kuala Kelawang, Bangi/Kajang, Putrajaya, and ends in Port Klang.