Penang Lrt Project Gets Govt Greenlight

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The Mutiara Line LRT project in Penang has finally received approval by the cabinet and is expected to be completed by 2030.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said construction is scheduled to commence this year and MRT Corp has been appointed as the project developer and asset owner.
During a press conference in Putrajaya, he said the project will be split into three components: Silicon Island - Komtar (Segment 1), Komtar - Penang Sentral (Segment 2), as well as the turn-key system and rolling stock contract.
“SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd has been offered Segment 1 based on the Single-Sourcing Request for Proposal mechanism, as requested by the Penang state government,” he said.
Loke said the request was based on the state government’s decision to appoint SRS as its project delivery partner for the Penang Transportation Master Plan, which comprises the Mutiara Line, through an open tender in August 2015.
He said SRS also funded a study of early technical designs while acquiring the approvals for the Environmental Impact Assessment, Social Impact Assessment, and Skim Kereta Api.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke“The contract value and related details are subjected to the negotiation process between MRT Corp and SRS which need to be finalised within six months,” he said.
Loke added that Segment 2, as well as the turn-key system and rolling stock contract, will go through an open tender.
He said the rolling stock operations depot and transit-oriented development project will be conducted by MRT Corp together with the state government.
“This new strategy aims to generate additional non-fare revenue which will be important as it will be reinvested for Penang LRT maintenance in the future,” he said.
Besides benefitting Penangnites, Loke said it would also provide better travelling experiences for workers who commute from Perlis, Kedah, and north Perak daily with KTM rail line continuity.
Covering about 29km, the Penang LRT Mutiara Line will feature 20 stations, including two interchange stations located at Komtar and Penang Sentral. - Mkini

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