MRT3 expected to be fully operational by 2030 - Wee

 

PARLIAMENT | The overall alignment for the Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3) line is expected to be fully operational by 2030, said Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong.

Wee (above) said the project is scheduled to commence tender this year for five main packages over six to eight years.

“The route was planned to operate in phases in which the first phase will be running as early as  December 2028 subject to the process of land acquisition,” he said when replying to a question by Hannah Yeoh (Pakatan Harapan-Segambut) in Dewan Rakyat today.

Hannah wanted to know the latest status of MRT3 development, its proposed alignment and the estimated completion timeline for each process until it is operational.

The MRT3 project, approved by the cabinet on March 4 is a circle line covering the outer perimeter of Kuala Lumpur city as well as part of the high-density areas in Ampang Jaya, Selangor.

Wee said based on the findings of a technical feasibility study carried out, the latest proposed alignment for  MRT3 project is a 51km circle line in which 39km is in Kuala Lumpur and 12km in Selangor.

The route would intersect with existing rail networks including MRT1, MRT2, Light Rail Transit (LRT), monorail and KTM Komuter to form 10 new interchange stations so that the public transport network in the Klang Valley is more comprehensive.

“About 80 percent of the overall alignment is elevated while 20 percent is underground,” he said.

Wee added that the project would be financed in a hybrid manner involving financing sources such as sukuk with government guarantees and also financing by deferred payment.

Meanwhile, Wee said the government may consider reviewing the fee structure for car parks in the city after the MRT3 project is completed including the need to impose an environmental fee or vehicle congestion fee when the public transport network system has been set up.

He was replying to a supplementary question by Fahmi Fadzil (Harapan-Lembah Pantai) who wanted to know if the government intends to impose a congestion charge on cars entering Kuala Lumpur when MRT3 is ready in future.

- Bernama