Latest news with #SRSConsortium
Free Malaysia Today
17-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
MRT Corp confirms green light for Penang LRT construction
The first package of the Penang LRT line project, worth RM8.31 billion, covers a 24km stretch from Komtar in George Town to the reclaimed Island A, with 19 stations and supporting works. (John Shen Lee pic) PETALING JAYA : MRT Corp has confirmed issuing a notice to proceed (NTP) to SRS Consortium on Tuesday, paving the way for full-scale construction of the Penang LRT project to begin. In a statement today, the company said the NTP was issued after the consortium fulfilled all of the key contractual conditions, with the civil works package officially taking effect on June 23. It said preliminary soil testing and environmental checks were ongoing, with advanced works like piling and utility relocation slated to begin in August. Major construction is expected to commence in late 2026. MRT Corp also announced the appointment of MMSB Consult Sdn Bhd as the project's independent consultant engineer, tasked with reviewing each phase of the project, from design to operations, to ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards. 'The scope of work includes a thorough review of the design, construction, testing and commissioning, and operation and maintenance phases, ensuring adherence to all relevant project requirements, standards and regulations,' it said. The RM8.31 billion contract was awarded in January, but work was delayed until MRT Corp gave the go-ahead in the form of the NTP. The project covers a 24km stretch from Komtar in George Town to Island A in the Penang South Island project, with 19 stations and supporting works. The federal government took over the LRT project through MRT Corp from the Penang government in March last year. SRS Consortium includes Loh Phoy Yen Holdings Sdn Bhd and Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd, each holding a 20% stake. MRT Corp, a unit of the finance ministry, is the asset owner and project manager. Two more packages remain. The second, a 5.5km cross-strait segment, is now out for tender. The third, a turnkey systems contract, closes for bids on Aug 11. The Mutiara Line will span 29.5km overall with 21 stations, linking a reclaimed island near the airport to Komtar and onward via a cross-channel bridge to Butterworth. MRT Corp has pegged the full cost at RM13 billion, with completion targeted by 2031.
Malay Mail
17-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Penang's Mutiara LRT Line kicks off with road widening, utility works planned at multiple locations
GEORGE TOWN, July 17 — Construction works on the Mutiara Line LRT project here are set to begin following the issuance of a notice to commence work. Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the notice was issued on July 15 by MRT Corporation (MRTC) to the main civil contractor, SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd. 'With this, the construction process will begin as planned, including utility relocation, road widening, piling works, and site establishment at all locations along the Mutiara Line alignment that have obtained approval from the relevant authorities,' he said in a statement today. He said the state is now awaiting the tender results for the appointment of a turnkey contractor for the CMC2 package, which covers the stretch from Macallum to Penang Sentral, as well as the rail systems package for the Mutiara Line. Chow added that there have been several key developments in the project, including the groundbreaking ceremony, the appointment of SRS as the main civil contractor for the CMC1 package in January, and the issuance of the Notice to Proceed to SRS. 'The state will be announcing the setting up of a strategic communication platform and feedback channel for all ongoing and upcoming mega projects to allow the public to access information and for further engagement,' he said. He called on all parties, especially the public, to give their full cooperation throughout the implementation of the project, which is expected to be completed by 2031.
New Straits Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Still no green light for LRT construction work in Penang
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government is still awaiting the Notice to Proceed or official notice to commence physical work on the Mutiara Line light rail transit project. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said, although the official notice from the Transport Ministry has yet to be issued, several preliminary works had already been carried out on site, including soil investigations, land acquisition and compensation negotiations with the involved landowners. "The official notice is important to enable full-scale physical construction works according to the planned schedule and plans. "At the moment, we are still waiting for official instructions from the ministry and MRT Corp," he said after officiating the Penang Transport Day 2025 here today. The 29.5km Mutiara Line LRT includes 21 strategic stations and designed to enhance connectivity between Penang island and the mainland, thereby reducing road congestion and improving accessibility. The main route plan covers the route from Penang Silicon Island to Penang Sentral and the Komtar station in George Town, with train services scheduled to operate alternately along the route. Chow said the state government has fulfilled its responsibilities by fully handing over the roles related to the LRT project to MRT Corp and releasing SRS Consortium from its previous role as the party that applied for the LRT implementation before. "The state government's relationship with SRS is now within the context of the other Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) projects, but for the LRT project, it has been taken over by MRT. "So now the main responsibility lies with the federal government to issue the notice," he added. Asked on the expected date for the issuance of the Notice to Proceed, Chow said the preliminary information received earlier stated it would be issued within a month or two. "Last month, I mentioned one or two months, so the second month is this month. Hopefully, it will really be issued this month," he said. Meanwhile, Chow said, as experienced in the LRT construction project in Kuala Lumpur, it was important for contractors to ensure that any road space taken in the course of construction, is replaced with road widening on the shoulders or side areas to maintain the existing number of lanes. "In Bandar Baru Air Itam, for example, the area used for road construction was replaced by taking land on the sides to ensure the two-lane route remains functional," he said. He added that, currently, the state government has no plans to impose any congestion charges because the priority now is to ensure smooth project implementation and traffic management throughout the construction period.
Malay Mail
01-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Penang still waiting for green light from Transport Ministry for LRT project, says chief minister
GEORGE TOWN, July 1 — The Penang state government is still awaiting the official notice to proceed from the Transport Ministry and MRT Corporation (MRTC) before physical work can begin on the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Mutiara Line project. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state hopes to receive the notice this month. 'Last month, I mentioned one or two months, so this month would be the second. We really hope it can be issued this month,' he said after officiating Penang Transportation Day at Komtar today. He said the notice is crucial to enable SRS Consortium to commence full-scale construction works according to the planned timeline. However, he noted that some preliminary work has already begun on-site, including soil investigation, land acquisition, and compensation for affected landowners. He said the state government has fulfilled its responsibility by handing over all roles related to the LRT project to MRTC. He added that SRS Consortium has also been released from its previous role as the original applicant for the project's implementation. 'The state's relationship with SRS now is only in the context of other components under the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), but for the LRT project, it has been taken over by MRTC,' he said. He said the main responsibility for the project now lies with the federal government, particularly in issuing the notice to proceed. On traffic management during the LRT construction phase, Chow said it will involve occupying parts of existing roads. 'It is important for contractors to ensure that any occupied road space is replaced by widening the road or using wide areas to maintain the same number of lanes,' he said. He cited the highway construction in Bandar Baru Air Itam, where land adjacent to the site was acquired to ensure two-lane traffic could continue to operate smoothly. Asked about the possibility of congestion charges in Penang, Chow said there are no plans for this at the moment. He acknowledged it may be listed in the PTMP as a potential strategy to address traffic congestion, but the state has yet to consider implementing it. The RM10.5 billion LRT line spans 29.5km, with 21 stations connecting the island's south to the northeast and linking the island to the mainland.
