KUALA LUMPUR: As of Aug 31, a total of 2,785 local companies were appointed as subcontractors, consultants and suppliers for the construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said the appointment was made by the main contractor of the project; China Communications Construction Sdn Bhd (CCC-ECRL) who is also the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) contractor.
He said based on Supplementary Agreement No.6, signed on June 2 last year, the cost for the construction of the ECRL project from Kota Baru, Kelantan to Port Klang in Selangor remains at RM50.27 billion.
"The Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) always pays attention to any changes that may result in increased costs for the entire ECRL project," he said in reply to a question from Wan Razali Wan Nor (PN-Kuantan).
Wan Razali had asked about the number of local and foreign companies involved in the project and whether there were any additional financial implications.
Meanwhile, Hasbi said as of August, the construction of the ECRL project has achieved 50.29 per cent progress.
"This year is the peak year of the construction, as it involves major structural works such as beam launching, the construction of stations and track laying.
"Currently, construction works such as bridge construction using a beam launcher machine, dredging works, structural works and tunnel construction are being actively carried out along the ECRL line."
He said the boring works using a tunnel boring machine for the first Genting Tunnel has reached 3.10km while the second Genting Tunnel has reached 4.29km.
"Dredging works for 25 of the 40 tunnels in the ECRL construction have been carried out as of Aug 25, including 21 tunnels in Section A (Kota Baru – Dungun) and Section B (Dungun – Temerloh) while the remaining four tunnels are under Section C (Temerloh – Port Klang)."
He said the beam launching works have also started in seven locations, namely Kota Baru, Kelantan; Bandar Permaisuri, Kuala Terengganu, Dungun, Kemasik in Terengganu as well as Kuantan and Paya Besar in Pahang, with a total of 1,100 of the 4,328 bridge spans have been installed.