MRT project on track

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak visited the Cochrane MRT station construction site on Friday afternoon and is pleased with the progress of the project.

“The first phase from Sungai Buloh to Semantan is scheduled to be completed by December 2016. The second phase will be completed in 2017. The implementation of this project at an estimated cost of RM23 billion will not exceed the allocated budget,” Najib said.

When asked about the initial problems faced for the project, Najib said matters such as the acquisition of lands had been resolved, adding that the MRT project now has growing support from the public.

“They see that this project will not only benefit them in terms of transporation, but some have reported an increase in the value of their land and property especially those close to an MRT station,” added Najib.

During his visit, Najib was briefed by Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid and Director for Underground Tunnel Blaise Mark Pearce.

The Cochrane MRT station construction site will also be the location where four tunnel boring machines (TBM) will be launched.

Two TMBs will excavate northwards towards Pasar Rakyat station, while the other two will excavate southwards towards the Maluri portal where the SBK line surface and continue towards Kajang.

The first TBM is expected to arrive from Germany at the end of this year. The projects requires a total of 10 TBMs, including the world’s first Variable Density TBM which was specially designed for tunneling through the Kuala Lumpur Lime stone Formation.

The MRT project is an Entry Point Project of the Government’s Economic Transformation Plan for the Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valey National Key Economic Area.