KUALA LUMPUR:The construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project is progressing well ahead of its original schedule, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Transport Minister Hasbi Habibollah said as of Oct 31, the construction had progressed to 19.09 per cent compared to 18.3 per cent under the schedule.

Replying to a question from June Leow Hsiad Hui (PH-Hulu Selangor), he said the construction of Section A of the project from Kota Bharu to Dungun, is proceeding at a pace 0.16 per cent faster than scheduled.

The rail scheme approval for Section A was obtained on May 14 and it will have six stations consisting of Kota Bharu and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan as well Jerteh, Bandar Permaisuri, Kuala Terengganu, and Dungun in Terengganu.

For Section B from Dungun to Temerloh, Pahang, Hasbi said since its construction was resumed in July last year, the progress has reached 5.93 per cent compared to the 4.07 per cent under schedule, involving earthworks and tunnel construction in Dungun, Paka and Kuantan.

“Preliminary works for the construction of tunnels in Gambang, Sri Jaya, Gedung Siam and Paya Pasir have already begun. Construction is expected to start at 101 locations along Section A and B by the end of 2020,” he said.

The government is in the process of finalising the alignment of Section C of the ECRL project from Temerloh to Port Klang in Selangor, Hasbi added.

On the participation of local contractors in the project, he said according to Clause 38.1 of the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) contract, China Communications Construction Company Ltd should allocate 40 per cent of the project quota (excluding tunnel works) to local contractors.

-- BERNAMA