Latest news with #MassRapidTransitCorporation
New Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Reveal cost and traffic impact of LRT project, says Penang opposition chief
GEORGE TOWN: State opposition leader Muhammad Fauzi Yusuff wants the Penang government to disclose the cost and Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) Report of the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. He said although the project was now under federal purview, the public deserved clear and detailed explanations as it was a major infrastructure project. "We, as the opposition, do not reject development and are not against the need for modern infrastructure that can improve the quality of life for Penangites. "However, it is my responsibility to ensure that every sen of public funds is spent with integrity and that all mega projects are executed transparently," he said in the state legislature. Fauzi was debating the motion of thanks for Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Ramli Ngah Talib's speech when opening the sitting last Friday. Fauzi (Pas-Sungai Dua) said the costs of the LRT and Pan Island Link (PIL) highway projects should be disclosed as they involved billions of ringgit in public funds. "Is the LRT truly the best solution to traffic congestion? Is it really worth it? What about the land acquisition process — was it completed before the project began, and how many families and businesses will be affected? "These are the questions that the state government must clarify so that the public is well informed about this mega project. "We also want to know whether preliminary studies were done on relocating underground utilities, such as water pipes, sewerage and cables. "If not managed properly, it could lead to delays and additional costs," he added. Fauzi said the TIA report should be a fundamental document before any mega project was initiated and ought to be released to the public. "We know that once construction begins, traffic congestion will worsen. "So, what mitigation measures have been prepared to deal with this during construction?" Fauzi also questioned how well-aligned were the stations with the mobility patterns of Penang residents. "What percentage of the state's population will actually use the LRT service? "Why not first strengthen the existing public bus system and expand the more flexible and cost-effective Demand-responsive Transport (DRT) service?" he said. Fauzi also raised concerns about the tourism aspect linked to the LRT project, noting that the distance from the station near the Penang International Airport is 200m, whereas the current Rapid bus service could take passengers directly to the departure hall. In addition, he demanded clarification on the proposed LRT line extension from the island to the mainland, reportedly continuing to Penang Sentral. "The question is, will the line be built through an undersea tunnel or an elevated bridge across the sea? This is a major issue that should be clarified from the outset," he said. It was reported that construction of the LRT was expected to start in the fourth quarter of next year. Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim said, based on the progress, the contractor, SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd (SRS), would soon begin soil investigations along the Mutiara Line route.
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Mutiara Line LRT large-scale construction to begin in Q4 2026, says MRT Corp
GEORGE TOWN: Large-scale construction of the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is set to begin in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2026, said Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim. He said that based on current progress, the contractor will soon commence soil investigation work along the proposed LRT alignment, before finalising the design. 'Soil investigation had been done before, and the data already exists; this isn't entirely new. However, there may be certain conditions or locations which require updates by the contractor,' he said. 'This is because the previous soil investigation was conducted around 2018, which was some time ago. So now, the contractor needs to carry out a fresh round of soil investigation,' he told reporters at the Mutiara Line LRT's Aidilfitri Open House, here, today. Also present were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and state Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari. Elaborating further, Mohd Zarif explained that the design must take into account the latest soil conditions, as well as existing underground utilities which may require relocation. 'So, naturally, some utilities along the road reserve will need to be relocated first. That process must happen as well. So, in terms of construction activity, you'll start to see signs, like small machinery moving in to begin utility relocation, within the next six months,' he said. He said it is normal that during the initial years, projects like the LRT line follow an S-curve trajectory, where progress picks up significantly after reaching a certain critical stage. 'It won't be an immediate spike; progress will be gradual until sometime next year. The S-curve trajectory will likely become more visible around 2027 or 2028, where you can see the slope of the curve. 'By 2029, we'll likely hit the peak of the S-curve, and that brings us another two years until the end of 2031,' he said. The 29.5 km Mutiara Line, featuring 21 stations, aims to boost connectivity across Penang Island and the mainland, easing congestion and improving access. It will connect Penang South Reclamation's Island A with both Penang Sentral and Komtar Station in George Town, with trains running alternately on both routes, for wider coverage.
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Mutiara Line LRT construction to start in Q4 2026
GEORGE TOWN: Large-scale construction of the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is set to begin in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2026, said Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim. He said that based on current progress, the contractor will soon commence soil investigation work along the proposed LRT alignment, before finalising the design. 'Soil investigation had been done before, and the data already exists; this isn't entirely new. However, there may be certain conditions or locations which require updates by the contractor,' he said. 'This is because the previous soil investigation was conducted around 2018, which was some time ago. So now, the contractor needs to carry out a fresh round of soil investigation,' he told reporters at the Mutiara Line LRT's Aidilfitri Open House, here, today. Also present were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and state Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari. Elaborating further, Mohd Zarif explained that the design must take into account the latest soil conditions, as well as existing underground utilities which may require relocation. 'So, naturally, some utilities along the road reserve will need to be relocated first. That process must happen as well. So, in terms of construction activity, you'll start to see signs, like small machinery moving in to begin utility relocation, within the next six months,' he said. He said it is normal that during the initial years, projects like the LRT line follow an S-curve trajectory, where progress picks up significantly after reaching a certain critical stage. 'It won't be an immediate spike; progress will be gradual until sometime next year. The S-curve trajectory will likely become more visible around 2027 or 2028, where you can see the slope of the curve. 'By 2029, we'll likely hit the peak of the S-curve, and that brings us another two years until the end of 2031,' he said. The 29.5 km Mutiara Line, featuring 21 stations, aims to boost connectivity across Penang Island and the mainland, easing congestion and improving access. It will connect Penang South Reclamation's Island A with both Penang Sentral and Komtar Station in George Town, with trains running alternately on both routes, for wider coverage.
New Straits Times
25-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Mutiara Line LRT construction in Penang to begin in fourth quarter 2026
GEORGE TOWN: Large-scale construction of the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is expected to take shape in the fourth quarter of next year. Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim said, based on the progress, the contractor, SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd (SRS), would soon begin soil investigations along the Mutiara Line LRT route. He said that soil investigations had already been carried out previously and that the data was available, adding that this was not a new process. "It is possible that there are some locations where the contractor needs to make adjustments, which means an update. The last soil investigation was conducted around 2018, so it has been quite a while. "Now, what the contractor needs to do is conduct another round of soil investigations in certain areas. Once this is done, they will be able to finalise the design, as the design must take the soil conditions into account," he told reporters during MRT Corp's Hari Raya open house at The Top here this afternoon. Present was Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. Zarif said that once the finalisation is done, the next step would be to determine whether the location has utilities that need to be relocated. As is known, he explained, there are utilities running underground next to the road. He mentioned that they would be utilising a large portion of the road reserve. "So, obviously, some utilities in the road reserve will need to be relocated first. That also needs to be done." "If you talk about construction activity, you will start to see, for example, six months from now, small machinery going to the site to begin relocating the utilities." "However, the large-scale construction, such as the viaduct, will start to take shape by the fourth quarter of next year." "Next year is only 2026, and with the target delivery date set for December 31, 2031, we still have five years to go," he added. Zarif said it was normal for projects like this to follow an S-curve, with the initial phase being a bit slow. He explained that after reaching a certain critical mass, progress would pick up, following the S-curve pattern. "So, projects like this follow an S-curve. It's not like a spike. Therefore, you'll see slow progress at the beginning. I would say the upward slope of the S-curve will start to appear after 2027 or 2028." "You have to understand the S-curve scenario. That's why I say that by the time we reach 2029, we will be at the top of the S-curve. From there, we'll have another two years until the end of 2031." "I know there is an expectation from the people of Penang and the state government that this has been a long-drawn project, but we are doing our best to expedite it," he said. He also said that despite it having only been three months, people could already see substantial progress. "For us to mobilise the entire machinery of the government and everyone else to achieve what we have today is quite significant. "I hope that with this kind of momentum, we will continue progressing. And hopefully, we will be able to exceed our own target timeline," he said. MRT Corp recently assured the public that the Mutiara Line LRT project remains on track and on schedule. As the asset owner and project developer, MRT Corp said that over the past three months, it had been actively driving the project forward. On Jan 10, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the Mutiara Line LRT project, marking the commencement of a transformative new chapter for the state's public transport network.
