New MRT line 30 percent complete

Construction of the Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) Mass Rapid Transit line reached 30 percent completion as of early July, said MRT Corp SSP Line project director Amiruddin Ma’aris.

He said that with the current pace of progress, the project would be able to move to the next phase of construction as scheduled.

“We have already started the long span viaduct crossover along Jalan Kuala Selangor while the commencement of track-laying works on the main line will start by December.

“With construction progressing rapidly and on track along the northern elevated alignment, we are optimistic of completing the viaduct work in time,” he said to reporters during a visit to one of the MRT SSP Line construction sites here today.

He said the total cost of the SSP Line project would also be reviewed but declined to elaborate.

Amiruddin said 48 packages worth RM30 billion, consisting of all civil, station and system works, had been awarded to contractors while the process of awarding 20 more packages worth RM2 billion was ongoing.

Meanwhile, MMC Gamuda KVMRT project director Param Sivalingam said the second phase of the project, which included the underground section from Jalan Ipoh station to Bandar Malaysia South station, was progressing well and was at 33.3 percent completion.

He said two tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) were operating along the underground section from Bandar Malaysia to Chan Sow Lin and six TBMs were scheduled to be launched between October and November.

“Four of the TBMs will be launched from Titiwangsa, with two going towards Sentul and two towards the HKL (Hospital Kuala Lumpur) station.

"As for the mined tunnel spanning about 182 metres, we are using the New Austrian tunnelling method with permanent in-situ concrete lining.

"Mined tunnel works at the first section of the southern elevated alignment at the Taman Universiti station began in June," he said.

The operation of Phase One of the MRT SSP Line, from the Sungai Buloh station to the Kampung Batu station, will begin in July 2021 while the rest of the line to the Putrajaya Sentral station will be operational under Phase Two in July 2022.

The line will serve as a corridor with a population of around three million, stretching from Sungai Buloh to Putrajaya and will include Sri Damansara, Kepong, Batu, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Jalan Tun Razak, KLCC, Tun Razak Exchange, Kuchai Lama, Seri Kembangan and Cyberjaya.

The proposed alignment is 52.2 km, of which 13.5 km is underground, with a total of 35 new stations.

-Bernama