ECRL realignment won’t add RM20b to its price tag - Wee

Putrajaya has denied its plan to revert the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) to original alignment with possible modification to the Mentakab-Klang stretch would see a sharp increase of RM20 billion in cost.

Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said the government would try its best to save cost by amending a certain scope of work of the ECRL alignment.

For a start, he expected to see a reduction of RM4 billion in cost if the government reverts to its initial alignment by using coastal land along the Kota Bharu-Dungun stretch.

"By doing so, there is no need for us to consolidate the soil. We could reduce the scope of work," he said when winding up the debate of royal address at Dewan Rakyat today.

"I don't want to see any misinterpretation that the ECRL price tag could increase RM21 billion if we revert to the original alignment," he said.

While noting BN's plan to choose double track would cost RM10.5 billion more, Wee also see a need for Pakatan Harapan’s administration to fork out RM2.8 billion to complete the double track along the alignment.

"The then adviser to the Harapan Daim Zainuddin slashed the ECRL cost to RM44 billion (this is the price tag) without taking into consideration of the RM2.8 provisional fund for the double-track formation," he said.

Wee said Putrajaya decided to stick to the single-track formation for the east coast stretch and construct double track at the Klang Valley area.

"The problem (of the Harapan's ECRL) is that all cargo arriving in Kuala Lumpur will pass through KL Sentral before going to Port Klang," he said, adding that this would waste close to two hours.

"With parallel track connecting to Port Klang, we will be able to resolve the problem as we are able to increase the service frequency," he said.

Wee also noted that Harapan's plan is not viable as it has to switch from electrified to diesel locomotives upon arriving at Jenjarom.

"We have to look the best for the country. I give my assurance that we will try to listen to all parties, we will try our best to save cost," he said.

Wee, however, did not reveal the estimated total cost of the ECRL.

According to the minister, the government had finalised the decision on Section A (Kota Bharu-Dungun stretch) and Section B (Dungun-Mentakab stretch).

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) and heritage impact assessment (HIA) report of these two sections have been approved while the social impact assessment had been submitted for approval, according to Wee.

As for Section C of the ECRL, which span from Mentakab to Port Klang, he said the ministry will meet the Selangor state government to listen to the latter's concern.

Wee acknowledged that both the Batu Dam and Gombak Selangor Quartz Ridge, which is a world heritage site, would be affected if Putrajaya sticks to the original alignment.

He said the federal government had made some amendment to the alignment and will meet the state government this week.

ECRL was among the mega projects reviewed and scaled-down by Harapan during its rule.

Harapan government altered the route so that it would not go through Bentong and Gombak as initially planned, thus avoiding the need for a costly 17.8km tunnel through the Gombak Selangor Quartz Ridge.

Instead, from Mentakab in Pahang, 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.

Under the original proposed alignment by BN, the ECRL would pass through Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang before entering Selangor from the north through Gombak and making its way to Serendah and Port Klang. - Mkini