KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Works Ministry has received an allocation for RM4.7 million to repair the recently upgraded 27km railway tracks from Halogilat to Tenom in the interior, which were damaged by a major flood.
State Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said the allocation was approved by the Transport Ministry in principle in August.
The process of disbursing the allocation to the state government will be carried out soon, he said responding to reports of Tenom villagers being forced to use trolleys for over 10 months.
Shahelmey said that the railway tracks upgrading project, costing RM49.5 million, was completed on Jan 25 last year with the issuance of the certificate of making good defects (CMGD) pending for Jan 25 this year,
However, the upgraded railway tracks were damaged by a major flood on Oct 31 last year.
Shahelmey explained that the Sabah State Railway Department (JKNS) has identified the necessary scope of work to reconnect the Beaufort and Tenom sectors to rail transport.
This scope includes cleaning work at RM1.69 million, repair of two bridges at RM1.17 million, and repair of the railway track at RM1.8 million.
The department is currently in the final stages of preparing tender documents for the repair work and is awaiting the allocation of funds from the Economy Ministry before proceeding.
Initially, the state Works Ministry and JKNS planned to carry out restoration work immediately through an emergency allocation.
However, they were advised by the ministry not to proceed due to contractual obligations still in force for the upgrading work contract.
Shahelmey said that minimal cleaning and repair work has been carried out in the Tenom to Pangi sector (KM 11), with train service operations using light stock trains being restored on Nov 19, last year.
For the Halogilat to Rayoh sector (Km 9), the route was only restored on June 21, he said.
However, for the Pangi to Rayoh sector (Km 10), this route has not yet been restored due to heavier damage, including two bridges, he said.
At present, residents in Rayoh have the option to use the restored train service to obtain their daily supplies in Beaufort, although some prefer to use motorcycle trolleys.