ECRL project scope will not be downsized – Loke

ECRL project scope will not be downsized – Loke

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The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project will not be downsized despite the reduction in its construction costs from RM65.5 billion to RM44 billion, transport minister Anthony Loke said. Only the Kota Bharu-Wakaf Bharu-Pengkalan Kubor alignment was not implemented as this segment would not significantly increase the value of the current railway transport network, Bernama reported Loke as saying.

The stations cancelled were Bentong, Gombak North, Gombak Integrated Terminal, Telaga Papan, Jelawat, Pengkalan Kubor and Wakaf Bahru, he added. “The new stations identified are Bangi/Kajang, Putrajaya Sentral, Port Klang as well as some new stations proposed in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan,” Loke said.

A reduction of RM21.5 billion was attained through a series of engineering reviews as well as value-engineering the implementation of the rail project as a whole. A technical study was conducted by the project owner appointed by the government, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd and China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC).

Following its initial cancellation, the ECRL project has since resumed with the aforementioned RM21.5 billion saving, making for a cost per kilometre of RM68.7 million compared to RM95.5 billion previously, the government said. Administrative capital Putrajaya is set to be one of the 20 stops along the rail link, and the ECRL has been scheduled for completion in 2026.

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Comments

  • BlackJack on Jul 11, 2019 at 1:42 pm

    By avoiding KL, it’s already downsized. Who are you kidding. Cost reduction is mainly due to no costly tunnels construction. Klang Valley alone has 7+ mil population, not to mention its neighboring region. This is a screw up and missed opportunity.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 40 Thumb down 8
    • Ghani on Jul 11, 2019 at 4:45 pm

      KL already connected to Bangi/Kajang, Putrajaya Sentral, Port Klang. By all public transportations MRT1, KTM Komuter, ERL, LRT & KVMRT2 SSP line. This part of Greater KL/Klang Valley Integrated Transit System then align to KTM ETS & Intercity Train also HSR. This on top RapidKL bus, taxi & Grabcar connectivity.

      Lets protect natural environments for our future generations too, Klang Gates Quartz Ridge once its gone. Its gone dude.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 10
      • Blackjack on Jul 12, 2019 at 4:59 pm

        People care more about ease of use and cost when talking about public transportation. The rail will now pass through absolute no man’s land in Jelebu,
        empty Putrajaya.

        At least we have somebody to blame if the project is at loss.

        And the track could easily be made to avoid the ridge. The stingy govt just want to lower the cost and use that as propaganda. They should think bigger.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
      • JOACHIM on Jul 12, 2019 at 5:08 pm

        There is no environmental damage with a tunnel, otherwise the Swiss would never bore train tunnels into their Swiss Alps.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • Lokman Saardon on Jul 11, 2019 at 7:31 pm

      Very good Loke. Since you took over, we have got so much of savings and improvements. The RM50 and RM100 travel cards are superb bro!!

      Amazing the amount of work and dedication you have put in. 1 year of your work equals to 20 years of the same work done by others.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 7
      • Aura89 on Jul 12, 2019 at 12:40 pm

        Hahaha! Wow, this guy really earns his paycheck from Loke. Too bad his blind adulation sickens me.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
      • lickasseveryday on Jul 16, 2019 at 12:01 am

        Guys help I have brown stuff on my nose

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • English Teacher on Jul 11, 2019 at 2:16 pm

    Does he know the meaning of downsizing. Removing the hub at Gombak is already DOWNSIZING! Joke Minister’s grasp of English is appalling.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 34 Thumb down 5
    • YB Albert on Jul 11, 2019 at 6:02 pm

      My residence is a mere 300 metres from the Gombak line to port Klang.What a relief…that line was aborted.
      Now those people in Negri sembilan have to bear the noise of the keretapi n stagnant property values if their houses are too close to the line.
      It was mega project that was conceived to make the bandit regime richer.Even with regime change,the rakyat has to bear the cost in the form of taxes.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 4
    • John Sambung Bayar on Jul 11, 2019 at 7:50 pm

      Wow from RM66 bil to RM44 bil. What a shock. Last time, all prices were jacked up to line up the pockets of people in Putrajaya

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
      • Rakyat Malaysia on Jul 12, 2019 at 12:31 pm

        Last time was RM66Bilion put to good use. Now its RM44Billion wasted because ECRL no longer serve its main function.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
    • lilytan on Jul 11, 2019 at 8:35 pm

      $$ savings from downsizing Ecrl can upgrade public facilities. School, hospital, library, sports and playground, polis and bomba station, public servant quarters & apartment. Not mega project, but this govt peka rakyat.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 10
  • kelantan darul peado on Jul 11, 2019 at 2:34 pm

    Syabas ECRL. Loke no more joke , Kota Bharu-Wakaf Bharu-Pengkalan Kubor alignment can wait.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 19
  • Does he even know the meaning of “Downsizing”?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 3
  • project scope not downsized but reduced..ha ha

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Anonymous on Jul 11, 2019 at 5:59 pm

    PH Govt misleading the people. By avoiding KL.. it is a realingment that would cost more for the people in the long run. KL is the central hub… it is where the crowd concregate… getting close to the hub is the optimal route.
    Imagine commuters would have to flock to Putrajaya solely to catch a train to the east coast…! It would be traffic havoc and costly too.

    I am hoping there will be time to change its aliignment back again into KL when PH govt is replaced after GE15. Wishful thinking.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 3
    • Rakyat Malaysia on Jul 12, 2019 at 2:35 pm

      This is what we hope, the project don’t go too far away from the initial layout that we can still return back after we voted out PH. Crossing our fingers, this will be a reality.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
  • DonkeyKong on Jul 11, 2019 at 6:04 pm

    AIYOH reducing the number of stations and shortening & altering the route to reduce cost by reducing quantities is DOWNSIZING LA!! What a clown…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3
  • Why remove the gombak hub?
    Why must put the station to Putrajaya?
    Who want to go there?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
    • Pharkchiq Along on Jul 12, 2019 at 12:08 pm

      Early worm get eaten by bird, too impulsive investors show hand all into gombak area right?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Any latest route to be shared/uploaded with regards to ECRL Section C?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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