RM40 bil KVMRT construction cost 'no longer relevant' - MRT Corp

The RM40 billion construction cost of the Klang Valley MRT (KVMRT) project is 'no longer relevant' to be used for comparison as it was based on prices in 2009, said Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp).

Furthermore, the amount did not include electric trains, related systems and land acquisition, it said.

MRT Corp today issued a statement in response to PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli's comments which said that the KVMRT was a 'bad' project.

The company said the figure was derived from a conceptualised proposal back in 2010, which was originally submitted in a private sector proposal for a three-line KVMRT project (to be built concurrently) to the government.

"However, after it was submitted to the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), the government reviewed and carried out a study on the proposal in 2010 which resulted in the model for the KVMRT project being changed significantly.

"Contrary to Rafizi's comments, the KVMRT project today is not a privatised project. It is wholly-owned and funded by the government through MRT Corp," it said.

MRT Corp said upon finalisation of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) alignment and the procurement process, it was able to announce in December 2012 that the budget for the construction cost for the SBK Line would be RM23 billion.

Similarly, it arrived at the estimated construction cost for the MRT Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) line at RM32 billion on the basis of the tenders it had awarded for the construction of the line.

All tenders for SBK and SSP lines were awarded through open tender system.

For the proposed MRT Line 3, also known as the circle line, MRT Corp has always stated that the feasibility study for the line is currently being carried out and the results are expected to be known in the first quarter of 2017.

In view of this, MRT Corp said it would not have been possible for it to give a cost estimate for MRT line 3 and that any figure which was reported for this line would be purely speculative and had come from other sources.

"We are dissapointed that Rafizi is attemtpting to politicise a project that is clearly benefiting the public, however, MRT Corp will remain focused on ensuring that the SBK Line operates smoothly and the second phase of the project is completed on time," it added.

In the one week since the first phase of service for MRT SBK Line commenced operations, some 210,000 passengers have used the service, which shows the public's enthusiasm and excitement in the project. -- BERNAMA