MRT Corp awards five contracts worth RM3.74bil for Sungai Buloh-Kajang line

PETALING JAYA: Mass Rapid Transit Corp (MRT Corp) has awarded five more work packages worth RM3.74bil for the massive Sungai Buloh-Kajang MyRapid Transit (MRT) line following the conclusion of the One Stop Procument Committee.

In a statement, MRT Corp said the packages comprised the Viaduct Package V8 Taman Mesra-Kajang electric trains, signalling and train control system, power supply and distribution, and depot equipment and maintenance vehicles.

Siemens AG turned out to be the biggest winner this round by clinching two contracts with a total tender price of RM1.78bil.

The first contract with a tender price of RM1.37bil for the electric trains was awarded to Siemens AG-Siemens (M) Sdn Bhd-SMH Rail Sdn Bhd consortium, while the second contract for the depot equipment and maintenance equipment, with a tender price of RM418mil, was awarded to Siemens AG-Siemens (M) Sdn Bhd-Hisniaga Sdn Bhd consortium.

The other companies that were awarded contracts were UEM Construction Sdn Bhd, Bombadier (M) Sdn Bhd and Meidensha Corp.

“With the award of Package V8 to the government-linked company UEM Construction Sdn Bhd (tender price RM951mil), all eight work packages for the construction of the viaduct guideway for the Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT line have been awarded.

“A total of 12 companies had earlier prequalified to tender for Package V8. Of the 12, six submitted bids when the tender period closed in June,” it said.

Meidensha secured the power supply and distribution package with its tender price of RM459mil while the signalling and train control system contract was awarded to Bombadier whose tender price was RM281mil.

To date, about 45 of a total 85 contract packages worth RM19.7bil had been awarded. That leaves 12 work packages in the process of being awarded and a further 28 yet to be called for tender.

“With the award of Package Viaduct 8, all work packages for the construction of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang alignment, both elevated and underground, have been awarded. This is a significant milestone for the project,” said MRT Corp chief executive officer Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid in the statement.

He said that as with all previous exercises, the award would be subject to the successful bidders signing the acceptance of the letter of award. He also remains confident that all main packages will be awarded by the end of the year.

“The evaluation looks at various factors including technical capability, financial strength and, of course, price. The key is finding a fit that will ensure the project gets the best technical input from a capable contractor while maintaining costs within our expectation for the packages,” he said.