The previously-suspended MRT3 project, which was supposed to complete the Klang Valley’s rail network by being the Circle Line loop, has been given the green light to proceed by the government, as announced by transport minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong earlier this month.
MRT Corp is being given three months to update the previously-conducted studies on the MRT3 project, which will be presented to the cabinet. The media was given a “refresher course” on the topic yesterday and here are some info from various reports from the event.
The proposal is looking at 30 stations, including some 10 interchanges. Some of the proposed MRT stations that will be confirmed in the coming months are Bukit Kiara, INTAN (National Institute of Public Administration), Sri Hartamas, Mont Kiara, Jalan Duta, Matrade, Jalan Kuching, Sentul West, Sentul East, Ayer Panas, Semarak, Setiawangsa, Ampang Point, Desa Pandan, Pandan Indah, Taman Perdana, Taman Midah, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM (previously known as HUKM), Kuchai Lama, Old Klang Road and Pantai Dalam.
MRT Corp CEO Mohd Zarif Mohd Hashim was quoted by FMT as saying that the line will be around 50 km long, and 40% of it will be underground. The project will be built in five phases over 10 years, but each completed phase will be able to operate independently, as the Circle Line links other stations/lines together. “We are trying to do it in an overall 10-year period instead of seven. We need to further local technology development so we are not going to rush this project,” he said.
A big project such as this will inevitably raise questions about funding, specifically the government’s ability to bankroll the project. This is why MRT Corp is looking at private sector participation and financing in a “hybrid” system. They are looking at up to 30% funding from the private sector.
“The government is prepared to fund this project but they are also giving an opportunity for MRT Corp to come up with our own private funding proposal. Right now, we are looking at a hybrid model. The project is reliant on government support, but we are trying to help the government,” Mohd Zarif told the media, reported by the Malay Mail.
The MRT Corp chief described MRT3 as a game-changing project for the construction industry and urban development, with big infrastructure plans that will include affordable housing and transit-oriented developments (TODs). He said MRT Corp aims to use the project as a catalyst to spur the local supply chain and construction players through an “industry development” tender system.
Mohd Zarif added that contracts will be awarded based on technological adoption, among others, including the use of the Industrialised Building System (IBS) and Building Information Modelling, modern construction methods that are faster and more sustainable. It is said that the use of IBS might reduce foreign worker dependency, as it makes construction easier and safer by being off-site. It’s hoped that this might attract more locals. The tender process will start in August.
While the MRT Corp CEO did not disclose the total project cost they’re looking at, he told the media that is not too far from the estimates previously quoted by analysts, who have previously mentioned sums from RM20 billion to RM30 billion, according to The Malaysian Reserve. As always, a new rail line will spur economic growth, and “we want the multiplier effect,” Mohd Zarif said.
Expect more updates on the MRT3 soon, as the alignment and station locations are firmed up and private players enter the fray.
But even as plans for the Klang Valley’s third MRT line is drawn, the second one – the MRT Putrajaya Line, formerly known as the Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) Line – is almost ready to roll.
MRT Corp said earlier this month that Phase One of the RM30.53 billion project – from Kwasa Damansara to Kampung Batu – is 97% complete, and is on track to start operations in August this year. The company said that the remaining work involves testing and commissioning of mechanical and electrical systems as well as trial operations. Phase Two, which is from Kampung Batu to Putrajaya Sentral, is scheduled to start operations in January 2023, completing the 57.7 km line.
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I thot bolehland short of funds,after giving out bantuan?
Very few railway companies in the world make money.KTM has been bleeding the gomen for 7 decades.
Private sector funding is just wishful thinking.
Covidian times have changed commuters’ behavior.People refrain from public transport,if they can afford an Axia.
Therefore,there is no rush to pump billions into this yet.
There is a suspicion,big corportions are lobbying thro vvips to push for this mega project.
It doesnt make sense,at the moment to start even a metre of this railway line.
Public infra should not be privatised in any form, neither is their priority to make profits from the public. The worrisome thing would be any privatised involvement might lead to contractual yearly price increases which make riding on this line costlier compared to MRT1 & 2. We see this happen with PLUS highway prior to PM Najib’s coup using KWSP.
The previous PDP way of private involvement that which disassociate them from the operational requirements is still the best way of public-private JV that which won’t burden the rakyat.
Correction.The dude used KWAP..not KWSP funds.If he used KWSP funds,Our country is now bankrupt,insolvent,kaput.
PLUS is jointly owned by PNB and EPF, that is the English term for KWSP. How else can the cabinet decide toll freezes for PLUS and not the others?
What’s the use? If cannot get feeder bus schedule sorted also..
Siapa ada property kat taman midah tidur ada senyum sekarang
“Industrialised Building System Provider is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.”
“Industrialised Building System concept is sequence of work.”
Acceptance of IBS – Challenging when we have more guidelines ?
My 2 cents comment: 1. We request MRTCorp to produce a study of ridership record performance or and carry out a Post-mortem ridership of the completed MRT 1 line reports. This will enable the public to understand whether the rail public transportation scheme benefit and expenditure are merely met or tally with the ridership projection or forecast before and after project completion. 2. Secondly, I recommend or suggest that the budget for the future expansion line or circle line must be justifiable with the performance of the current return of financial allocated and investment using taxpayers money.
Due to these facts, I personally give my view on the current MRT Line 1 performance is below the targetted return. Based on my observation, the daily passenger takes the trip is less than the projected passenger demand. The Train coach is mostly empty if we make the trip on a weekday from the end to the end destination station. Sadly, during peak hours, the 4-6 trains-coach is also showing less passenger. Most of the stations are quiet and no economic activity is encouraged or lack of promotion to promote rail public transportation as one of the important modes of transport.
It’s shame to the country image, where the money was spent on the project is wasted without benefit return to the taxpayers. It’s only beneficial to BIG BOYS who has made more money in construction projects and NOT benefit for the Rakyat. From what can see, the volume of cars on the road are still higher than suppose to be on the roads as we wanted and become useless for a zero-emission campaign where it doesn’t suit sustainable development goals for the environment protection scheme. As we have seen, aLways traffic congestion on the road daily and we lost our time life.
Therefore, I totally disagree with the current Government to allocate a huge budget and spend huge fund or money for the project of the MRT3 Line or Circle Line. The requirement of the project and viability study of ridership demand for the project is not tally with the income and return of the government’s expenditure and meet the targeted profit margin expectation. Please correct me if I’m wrong to say that project is failed to uphold the status of the Public Transportation System Scheme in Greater KL.
The way I look at this project, the government should promote or encourage the PFI Scheme where the private sectors should explore and invest in the major infrastructure project. The Government should focus on the strategy on how to collect the revenues, taxes etc, create SME’s scheme for entrepreneurs and as well maintaining the economic activity within the station’s zone and promote or market public rail transportation system.