KLANG – Passengers can expect to board the LRT3, known as the Shah Alam line, in the third quarter of next year as it is now 95.6% completed, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Addressing a press conference after a working visit at the LRT3’s Pasar Jawa station, here, today, Loke said physical works on the project, including interchange stations, are estimated to be completed by October this year.
“Subsequently, system integration and testing procedures will take place until early next year, following which another round of testing and commissioning will last about three to four months.
“The project is expected to be fully completed by the third quarter of next year. By August or September, (LRT3) can begin operations.”
The minister said while the project has experienced setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and its contractors have been working hard to make up for lost time.
The LRT3 project, which runs from Klang to Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya, is expected to benefit more than two million residents.
Loke also confirmed that the cabinet on July 5 agreed to reinstate five stations as part of the route after they were previously shelved during the Pakatan Harapan administration as part of cost-cutting measures.
The move saw the overall price tag of the LRT3 project being reduced to RM16.63 billion from the RM31.7 billion under the Barisan Nasional administration.
The cost of reinstating the five stations, Loke said today, is expected to cost RM3.8 billion – a figure slightly lower than the RM4.7 billion allocated to the revived stations under Budget 2024.
“The RM3.8 billion cost covers the restoration of the project scope as well as infrastructure and system costs, including contractors, rolling stock purchases, electronic buses and bus depot construction.”
Loke had told the Dewan Rakyat that the construction of the revived stations would not delay the start of operations for the line, which will connect Shah Alam and Klang residents to the rest of the Klang Valley.
In a response to Scoop previously, Prasarana said the allocation would run the gamut of infrastructure requirements and be utilised on key priority areas under the project’s approved scope.
During a visit to the Tropicana area, Scoop spoke to several residents who welcomed the project’s recommencement as good news due to the increased ease of public transport access. – July 29, 2024
