More parties eyeing for KVDT2 project
KUALA LUMPUR: The Klang Valley Double Track Phase 2 ( KVDT2) project, which is currently being reviewed, has attracted the attention of rail companies with the offer of a shorter deadline and at a cheaper cost.
“It can be done at RM3.5 billion,” said a source.
The figure quoted is much lower than the RM5.26 billion contract awarded to Dhaya Maju LTAT Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera ( LTAT) and Dhaya Maju Infrastructure (Asia) Sdn Bhd ( DMIA).
The source, who requested anonymity, said they have engaged a railway consultant from Europe, a region noted for railway technology and its vast connectivity.
“Based on our findings, KVDT2 does not need intensive rehabilitation, hence, the scope of work can be reduced and the works can be completed within three to four years.
“This will help Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd ( KTMB) to be more financially sustainable as it can roll out more frequent railway services travelling at faster speeds. Once it has more funds, it can revisit more rehabilitation work,” the source added.
The KVDT2 project has attracted much attention from railway players as one of the country’s remaining mega projects, aside from the East Coast Railway Link.
Recently, an English daily reported that three independent railway contractors had called for the infrastructure project to be divided into 10 smaller work packages of about 20 kilometres ( km) each, claiming that the cost could be lowered if the contractors could tap into KTMB’s equipment for the rehabilitation works.
The KVDT2 project involves the rehabilitation of 211km of KTMB’s railway tracks, stretching from Salak South to Seremban, and from Kuala Lumpur Sentral to Port Klang – which are more than 25 years old.
Responding to queries, DMIA which has been asked to stop its work, explained that the scope of work was determined and negotiated by a team of experts from the Ministry of Transport, KTMB, Public Works Department, the Land Public Transport Commission, Economic Planning Unit and Ministry of Finance when negotiations for the project started in 2013.
“The letter of intent for KVDT was awarded to DMIA in 2013 but because of government budget constraints, the KVDT contract was subdivided into phases 1 and 2,” it said.
The company said the negotiations for KVDT2 began in 2016, and after a stringent process, the letter of intent was awarded in 2017.
“About RM1.5 billion of the RM5.26 billion is allocated for non- track rehabilitation related works, including flood mitigation, culverts replacement, bridge rehabilitation, KTMB facilities upgrades and additional system improvements,” it said.
DMIA added that the rehabilitation work could only be done when there are no trains running and power is turned off for the overhead lines.
“This project is heavily reliant on KTMB operations support. In many areas, work can only be done for three hours at night when power is shut down,” it said.
The complexity of the project required an extensive portfolio of machinery as the use of trucks, big excavators and other heavy infrastructure machinery was limited due to space constraints, said DMIA.
The company had also brought in Southeast Asia’s first track panel machine for the rehabilitation work.
“If a contractor does not have the requisite and specific machinery, they won’t be able to undertake the works,” it said.
DMIA has completed 75 per cent of works on KVDT1, which is expected to be done by the end of 2020.
KVDT1 was awarded at a cost of RM1.41 billion, involving the rehabilitation of 42km of KTMB tracks on the Rawang- Salak South and Sentul- Simpang Batu lines. — Bernama