‘Early completion of MRT line cuts cost, labour wastage’

KUALA LUMPUR: The early completion of the first phase of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Sungai BulohKajang (SBK) line between Sungai Buloh and Semantan has not only reduced cost but also manpower wastage.

It also ensured completion of the project within the stipulated budget, said MRT Corp Sdn Bhd strategic communications and stakeholder relations director Datuk Najmuddin Abdullah.

He said operation commencement of the MRT SBK line on December 16, or 16 days earlier than scheduled, also helped increase efficiency of the whole project which was targeted to be fully operational by July next year.

The RM23 billion MRT SBK line, which covers 51km with 31 stations, is part of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) projects initiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“It is also one of the National Key Result Areas to improve urban public transport, and will be interconnecting with the other three urban rail systems — light rail transit, KTM Komuter and KL Monorail,” he said.

Najmuddin said although 16 days were not a big deal for a layman, it meant a lot from the technical perspective.

“We saved a lot of money, reduced unnecessary construction wastage and the people are able to enjoy the ride earlier,” he said recently.

He said one of the main factors that had assisted in the earlier completion was the setting up of the executive committee chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa, who is also MRT Corp chairman.

MRT Corp is fully owned by Minister of Finance Inc and set up to be the developer and asset owner of the MRT project.

“The exco, I believe, is the first of its kind in any mega projects in Malaysia. It involves secretary-generals from several related ministries such as Transport Ministry, Finance Ministry and Health Ministry, together with senior officials from Selangor and Kuala Lumpur City Hall,” he said.

Apart from overseeing the project, the committee had assisted MRT Corp in resolving problems related to the federal and state governments in the construction of the project.

Meanwhile, MRT Corp has signed mutual agreements with landowners, that are private companies, to jointly develop the area, including an agreement to co-exist with TRX City Sdn Bhd on the development of the TRX underground MRT station.

“MRCB Corp will build a 300m pedestrian walkway linking the national museum MRT station and KL Sentral,” he said. Bernama