JOHOR BARU: The Johor government has given its approval to restart work on the 192km electric double-tracking rail project between Gemas and Johor Baru, which stopped due to the movement control order (MCO).
Works, transport and infrastructure committee chairman Mohd Solihan Badri said the decision was made during the state executive council meeting last week.
However, he said the approval by the state government to a request from the contractor was only for certain works on the project.
The contractor must have the green light from other relevant bodies and agencies before resuming work, he added.
“But the double-tracking project is of national interest, so the state government is hopeful that it will get the necessary approvals,” Mohd Solihan said when contacted.
The Gemas-Johor Baru double-tracking project, which is under the Transport Ministry, is estimated to cost RM12.4bil. It is targeted to be completed by October next year.
It will have 14 stations in Johor – Tenang, Chamek, Senai, Segamat, Genuang, Labis, Bekok, Paloh, Kluang, Mengkibol, Renggam, Layang-Layang, Kulai and Kempas Baru.
Mohd Solihan, who is Tenang assemblyman, said the construction for the double-tracking project had been delayed by more than a month due to the MCO.
“Much of the work had been put on hold since the MCOwas imposed from March 18.
“The contractor for the project had handed in their request to the state government to allow them to restart their work,” he added.
On April 16, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said sectors allowed to operate would need to get their workers screened.
This was among conditions set by the ministry in allowing certain businesses and sectors to operate during the third phase of the MCO.
Azmin said for the construction industry, companies allowed to operate must reduce the number of workers to the bare minimum or not exceeding 50% of what is needed.
“They must cooperate with the Health Ministry in executing contact tracing of workers that have been infected with the virus.
“Companies must provide transportation for workers and practise social distancing and the vehicles used must be sanitised before and after use,” he said.
The government awarded the contract for the design, construction, supply, installation, completion, testing, commissioning and maintenance of the double-tracking project to a Chinese consortium comprising China Railway Construction Corp, China Railway Engineering Corp and China Communication Construction Consortium.
SIPP-YTL JV, a consortium between SIPP Rail Sdn Bhd and Syarikat Pembenaan Yeoh Tiong Lay Sdn Bhd, is the local sub-contractor to the consortium and is responsible for the civil works, including upgrading all 14 stations.
Works, transport and infrastructure committee chairman Mohd Solihan Badri said the decision was made during the state executive council meeting last week.
However, he said the approval by the state government to a request from the contractor was only for certain works on the project.
The contractor must have the green light from other relevant bodies and agencies before resuming work, he added.
“But the double-tracking project is of national interest, so the state government is hopeful that it will get the necessary approvals,” Mohd Solihan said when contacted.
The Gemas-Johor Baru double-tracking project, which is under the Transport Ministry, is estimated to cost RM12.4bil. It is targeted to be completed by October next year.
It will have 14 stations in Johor – Tenang, Chamek, Senai, Segamat, Genuang, Labis, Bekok, Paloh, Kluang, Mengkibol, Renggam, Layang-Layang, Kulai and Kempas Baru.
Mohd Solihan, who is Tenang assemblyman, said the construction for the double-tracking project had been delayed by more than a month due to the MCO.
“Much of the work had been put on hold since the MCOwas imposed from March 18.
“The contractor for the project had handed in their request to the state government to allow them to restart their work,” he added.
On April 16, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said sectors allowed to operate would need to get their workers screened.
This was among conditions set by the ministry in allowing certain businesses and sectors to operate during the third phase of the MCO.
Azmin said for the construction industry, companies allowed to operate must reduce the number of workers to the bare minimum or not exceeding 50% of what is needed.
“They must cooperate with the Health Ministry in executing contact tracing of workers that have been infected with the virus.
“Companies must provide transportation for workers and practise social distancing and the vehicles used must be sanitised before and after use,” he said.
The government awarded the contract for the design, construction, supply, installation, completion, testing, commissioning and maintenance of the double-tracking project to a Chinese consortium comprising China Railway Construction Corp, China Railway Engineering Corp and China Communication Construction Consortium.
SIPP-YTL JV, a consortium between SIPP Rail Sdn Bhd and Syarikat Pembenaan Yeoh Tiong Lay Sdn Bhd, is the local sub-contractor to the consortium and is responsible for the civil works, including upgrading all 14 stations.
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