KUALA LUMPUR: The high cost and long completion period are the reasons why the Government will review the second phase of the KTM Klang Valley Double Track (KVDT) upgrade project.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the upgrade of the second phase is estimated to cost RM5.9bil and take seven years to complete.
“It is too high and the tenders were awarded through direct negotiations and tenders.
“This translates to RM53mil for every kilometre.
“The Government doesn’t agree with this,” said Loke during a press conference after a briefing with KTM Berhad on its performance and ongoing projects yesterday.
Also present was KTMB chief executive officer Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin.
Loke said the ministry also could not “stomach” the long completion period as it would inconvenience and delay commuters.
He said the first phase of the KVDT upgrade project would be completed in November 2019.
The second phase of the project involving 110km, he said, spans from KL Station to Klang, Salak South to Seremban and Simpang Port Klang to Port Klang.
He added that the ongoing upgrade work for the first phase is the reason why there are delays in the train schedules.
“One track has been closed so there are delays between KL Station to Simpang Port Klang and Rawang, and there are no double tracks for these routes,” he said.
Loke said the ministry would rather be “honest” and transparent about the situation than cover up the issue.
The upgrade for the first phase started in 2015, covering 42km of tracks and is 60% complete.
Loke said 19 transit buses are being deployed in selected stations.
He said the ministry is also looking at alternative solutions to ease the burden of commuters.
Meanwhile, Loke also handed out Hari Raya gifts to commuters bound for their home towns at KL Sentral.
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