Kuala Lumpur, 22 November: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project will unveil to the public its proposed realignment from Kota Bharu, Kelantan to Dungun, Terengganu at the commencement of its Public Inspection exercise on Monday (25/11/19).
Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) said the public will be able to provide feedback and suggestions during the 3-month ECRL Public Inspection for the Kota Bharu-Dungun stretch (also known as Section A) which comprises a mainline with a length of 210.4 km, a proposed future spurline measuring 14.4 km, and six passenger/freight stations.
It said the ECRL realignment for Section A had proposed two stations for Kelantan namely Kota Bharu and Pasir Puteh, while Terengganu will have four stations located at Jerteh, Bandar Permaisuri, Kuala Terengganu, and Dungun. The 14.4 km proposed future spurline is expected to link the ECRL mainline in Kelantan with the port of Tok Bali.
The proposed 210.4 km Kota Bharu-Dungun stretch or Section A mainline will consist of 43.9 km rail alignment in Kelantan and the remaining 166.5 km alignment in Terengganu.
MRL Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Sri Haji Darwis Abdul Razak said the proposed realignment for Section A was in line with comprehensive value engineering exercise that resulted in cost savings for the improved ECRL project, noting that the 210.4 km stretch would be positioned inland instead of the coastal areas of Kelantan and Terengganu.
He said MRL had received conditional approval for its ECRL Railway Scheme for Section A from the Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat (APAD) on 4 November 2019, paving the way for the Public Inspection exercise to ensure the project’s rail alignment meet the interests and expectations of the local populace.
The Public Inspection information booth for Section A will be operating on weekdays at the APAD headquarters in Kuala Lumpur from 25 November 2019 until 24 February 2020. Other Public Inspection booths in Kelantan and Terengganu will operate on dates to be announced from time to time over the period of three months.
“We trust the public would take advantage of the Public Inspection exercise and share your views on the Section A alignment with us. The public may also visit MRL’s website (www.mrl.com.my) or access the ECRL project’s social media platform for the latest information and details of the Public Inspection exercise,” added Darwis.
The MRL Chief Executive Officer said soil investigation and land survey works were ongoing along the Kota Bharu-Dungun stretch to ensure the proposed route would be all geared-up for constructions works upon the impending approval of the Railway Scheme for Section A.
“We are also pleased to have initiated to the respective authorities the Environment Impact Assessment, Social Impact Assessment, and Heritage Impact Assessment for Section A as these reports are prerequisites for APAD granting final approval to our Railway Scheme,” he explained.
On ECRL’s progress, Darwis said the project’s overall completion rate currently stood at 12.86 percent as compared to 10.18 percent in June 2019, noting that construction works involving tunnels and viaducts along the 223-km Dungun-Mentakab stretch (also known as Section B) was progressing according to plan.
“Site clearing and earthworks are actively taking place on multiple sites along Section B where there are no alignment changes to our Railway Scheme following the resumption of the improved ECRL project back in April 2019,” he noted.
The ECRL is well positioned as a national infrastructure to link cities and towns as well as upgrade public transportation in the rural areas along its entire 640 km rail network from Kota Bharu to Port Klang. It will traverse the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and WP Putrajaya.
MRL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Minister of Finance Incorporated, is the project and asset owner of the ECRL while China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) is the main contractor. Scheduled for completion by December 2026, the ECRL will cut travel time and expected to link Kota Bharu with WP Putrajaya in approximately 4 hours.
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Released by the Corporate Communications Department of Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd. For further information, please contact: Rosmah Mahmud at (03-6411 5800 ext. 5830 / [email protected]) or Yong Min Wei at (03-6411 5800 ext. 5835 / [email protected]).