Final approval for MRT 2 expected in October

SUNGAI BULOH: The final alignment and railway scheme for Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line 2 is expected to be approved by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) next month, with Mass Rapid Transit Corp targeting to start construction in the first quarter of 2016.
MRT Corp CEO Datuk Shahril Mokhtar said yesterday the final details of the proposed of 52.2km Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya rail line were presented to SPAD last week.
He said the presentation includes details of the proposed private land acquisition under Section 4 and Section 8 of the Land Acquisition Act 1960.
"We expect construction to start as early as the first quarter of next year as the tender for the first package of construction (will) be out next month. The first package is for the 4km stretch to start from Sungai Buloh," he said.
Shahril said the 10 main construction packages of MRT 2 will consist of six in the open category and four in the bumiputra contractors category. He, however, did not disclose the value of the contract for the first package.
On the procurement and civil works for Line 2, Shahril said the construction prequalifications for MRT stations and guideways have been completed.
Asked whether the impact of the ringgit devaluation is affecting the construction cost for MRT 1 and 2, he said: "The impact is very minimal."
"As far as Line 1 is concerned, the impact is on the imported items, particularly the system. Based on our calculation, the deficit is over RM600,000 based on the exchange rate when we first finalised the contract. When it comes to RM600,000, it is still very minimal compared with the total cost for the system itself, which is 20% (of the entire project) or over RM4 billion," he added.
For Line 2, the construction cost would be RM28 billion, after taking into account currency fluctuation risks.
Shahril was speaking to reporters after the signing of a memorandum of understanding on enhancing occupational safety and health at worksites between MMC Gamuda KVMRT, CIDB Holdings and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
MRT Line 2 will have 36 stations and an end-to-end journey will take 84 minutes.