Prasarana wins Makkah Metro bid

KUALA LUMPUR: Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana) has won the bid to be the "shadow operator" for the Makkah Public Transport Programme Metro (Makkah Metro) Phase One.
"The win enhances our position to secure the upcoming bids for the operations and maintenance of the four Makkah Metro lines," Prasarana group managing director, Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar said in a statement yesterday.
As the shadow operator, Prasarana will provide operations and maintenance consultancy services to the Makkah Mass Rail Transit Company during the construction of Phase One of Makkah Metro.
The construction covers two lines with 22 stations spanning 45.1km, including 24.9km underground rail network.
Shahril said it would conduct preliminary and detailed design reviews for the project in addition to developing the operations and maintenance specifications and service agreements for the future contractor.
It will support and advise the client in the development of safety and security strategies, as well as rules and regulations in addition to sharing the best practices for metro operations.
The company will also cultivate the operational culture at the client's organisation over the 30-month contract period. The RM9 million consultancy services contract is expected to begin in Dec 2014.
Phase One of the Makkah Metro is expected to be commissioned by 2019.
In addition to supporting the Makkah Metro project, Prasarana is focused on completing the Bus Rapid Transit-Sunway Line in mid-2015, working on the Light Rail Transit Line extension project and preparing for the operations of the Mass Rapid Transit Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line. – Bernama