LRT3’s opening delayed to 3rd quarter of 2025

 

The LRT3 line will run over 37km from Bandar Utama to Klang. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The LRT3 project is now only expected to commence operations in the third quarter of next year, according to transport minister Loke Siew Fook.

Loke said construction of the RM16 billion project is 95.6% complete and is expected to be completed in October, Bernama reported.

This will be followed by system integration for the rail line, which will take several months until early 2025.

After this process, we will be ready for testing and commissioning, which will take three to four months, before starting operations by the third quarter of next year,

 he said.

The LRT3 line, which will run over a total distance of 37km from Bandar Utama to Klang, was initially slated to commence operations in March 2025.

The construction of five LRT3 stations – Tropicana, Raja Muda, Temasya, Bukit Raja and Bandar Botanik – had been shelved in 2018, but was revived by the unity government in October last year, at a cost of RM4.7 billion.

Loke said the 

slight

 delay compared with the initial target of March next year was partly because of how the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns had affected construction work.

He also said Putrajaya will spend an additional RM3.8 billion following the reinstatement of the five LRT3 stations, to purchase seven more sets of three-carriage trains and 150 electric buses for feeder services and expand the Johan Setia train depot.

The additional scope and other works will take two years, but will not affect the opening and operational dates for the 20 stations,

 he said. - FMT