MoF insists no cost hike despite 20pc delay to LRT extension works

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — The extension projects for the Kelana Jaya and Ampang LRT lines have suffered a 20 per cent delay, but the Finance Ministry told Parliament today it does not expect an increase in the original RM8 billion cost.

The Finance Ministry said in a parliamentary reply to DAP’s Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua here today that as of August 30 this year, 41.5 per cent of works have been completed, compared to the original schedule of 66.3 per cent, resulting in a delay of 19.8 per cent that will push the completion date to the first quarter of 2016.

“The original construction cost of the extension project for both LRT lines still remains at RM8 billion, and at this time, there is no increase in costs because the project was done through open tender in a transparent manner, full of integrity,” the Ministry of Finance said in the reply.

“The delay in the completion date is caused by problems that cropped up in construction works, like having to move cables and underground pipes before building the LRT support structures, the difficulty in getting accurate information about the location of the cables and underground pipes, as well as the change of the support structure design after taking into account the suitability and actual conditions of the land and geology of the construction sites,” it added.

Last March, Prasarana suspended TRC Synergies Bhd, the contractor for the Kelana Jaya LRT extension project, after construction equipment fell off the rail track in Subang, killing a motorist and seriously injuring another.

TRC Synergies’ subsidiary, Trans Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd, won the contract for the 17 km extension of the Kelana Jaya line, from the Kelana Jaya station to Putra Heights, adding another 13 stations in the rail network.

Bina Puri-Tim Sekata JV was appointed to construct the 17.7 km route extension to the Ampang Line that will add another 13 stations.

Upon completion, both LRT lines will meet at the Putra Heights station, creating a complete rail network in the Klang Valley.

The Kelana Jaya line extension is expected to boost passenger capacity to 98,000 during peak hours, while the Ampang line extension will accommodate 79,800 passengers.

The Finance Ministry said today that the delay is to enable technical problems to be solved, stressing that user safety is priority.

“Currently, among the construction works being done are civil works like...the building of stations and a guideway,” it said.