Delayed: Phase 1 of KVDT project to be completed early 2021

Transport Minister Anthony Loke estimates that phase one of the Klang Valley Double Tracking (KVDT1) project will be completed early next year, a delay from the original July 2020 target. 

“Yes, there will be some delay [...] because as mentioned (for) this whole project, there are some challenges that the contractor was facing, especially with KTM Berhad.

“In terms of the time slot that we can give the contractor, (it) is very limited. At the same time, we cannot affect our operations. (This is) the balancing that we have to take into consideration,” he said this afternoon.

“Early next year [...] hopefully in quarter 1, yes,” Loke (above) added when asked about the estimated completion date.

KVDT1 was now more than 70 percent complete, he also said.

Loke addressed the media after accompanying Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on a tour of the warehouse of KVDT1 contractor Dhaya Maju Infrastructure (Asia) Sdn Bhd in Serendah, Selangor.

The KVDT1 project comprises rehabilitation of KTM tracks between Rawang and Salak South, spanning 40km.

As for the second phase of the project (KVDT2), Loke said work had begun in September 2019.

“We are still at the beginning stage for phase two but what is most important is we want to ensure phase one is completed, latest by early next year,” he said.

After forming government in May 2018, Pakatan Harapan had cancelled KVDT2 citing high costs. It had also disagreed with how the project had been awarded through direct negotiations to Dhaya Maju LTAT Sdn Bhd by the previous BN administration.

The firm is an 80:20 joint venture between Dhaya Maju and Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT).

Without any calls for an open tender, the joint venture firm was re-appointed in July 2019 as the contractors.

The project cost was cut by 15 percent to RM4.475 billion and project tenure was shortened from seven years to five years.

The KVDT2 project is to rehabilitate two stretches of KTM railway tracks spanning 265km - Salak South-Seremban and Simpang Port Klang-Port Klang.  - Mkini