PN gov't mulls reviving BN-era ECRL alignment - report

Putrajaya is discussing the possibility of reverting the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) alignment to the one first proposed under the BN government, according to business weekly The Edge Malaysia.

The report, quoting an official within Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd, which is the project owner, said the proposed reversion mainly involves Section C which is the portion in the Klang Valley connecting to Port Klang.

"The proposal has been discussed in a national council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin recently," the source was quoted as saying.

The previous Pakatan Harapan government had decided to realign the ECRL to travel along the south side of Greater Klang Valley instead of the northside in a cost-cutting effort.

Under the original alignment, the ECRL would pass through Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang before entering Selangor through Gombak and making its way to Serendah and Port Klang.

The then Harapan government altered the alignment so that it wouldn't go through Bentong and Gombak as initially planned, thus avoiding the need for a costly 17.8km tunnel through the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge.

Instead, from Mentakab, it would run south to Kuala Klawang in Negeri Sembilan before entering Selangor through Bangi/Kajang and then proceeding to Putrajaya Sentral and finally Port Klang.

Coupled with other changes including the reduction from 24 to 20 stations, the project cost was reduced from RM66.5 billion to RM44 billion.

The report said it understood that the latest proposal was raised by Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong.

Wee told the business weekly that the realignment made by the previous Harapan government was "not a fixed alignment but a proposal".

As such, Wee was quoted as saying that the PN government was evaluating possible options. - Mkini