JOHOR BARU: Several foreign companies have shown interest in the Iskandar Malaysia Bus Rapid Transit (IMBRT) system which will serve an area that is over three times the size of Singapore.
State Works, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Mohd Solihan Badri said one of the companies had already sent its proposed model recently.
“There are also other companies expected to send their models for the state to evaluate and select the most suitable for the IMBRT system.
“The state has already identified the routes and alignments for the project and we are in the final stage of awarding the tenders for the station’s design, ” he said after inspecting the Pasir Gudang highway here yesterday.
The IMBRT system is part of the RM780mil allocation announced by the Federal Government in Budget 2021 to fund five regional development projects this year.
Solihan said the IMBRT system would have 26 direct routes and 42 feeder routes.
It is learnt that the IMBRT system would complement the Rapid Transit System connecting Johor Baru and Singapore as well as the electrified double-track railway from Gemas to Johor Baru.
On another matter, Solihan said the state received RM36.3mil from the Works Ministry for repairs and maintenance works along federal and state roads in Johor.
He said a big portion of the allocation would be channelled to the Pasir Gudang highway, which connects the industrial area to Johor Baru, with about RM10.6mil to be used to fix potholes on the highway.
“It will involve some 11km of the highway which is expected to start on Feb 15. We urge motorists to be patient during this period and always follow the safety signs, ” he added.
Solihan also said the Public Works Department had carried out a forensic study on the highway which revealed weaknesses of its structure.
He added that the state would blacklist contractors whose works failed to meet the specifications set by the ministry.
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