ECRL on track for scheduled completion, Dewan Rakyat told

KUALA LUMPUR: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) construction has reached 50.29% completion up until August this year, says Anthony Loke.

According to the Transport Minister, 2023 is the peak year for ECRL construction involving major structural works such as beam launching, station construction and track laying.

“Currently, construction works such as bridge construction using beam launcher machinery, dredging works, structural works and tunnel construction are being actively carried out along the ECRL line.

“Tunnelling works using the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) method for the first Genting tunnel have reached 3.10km while the second Genting tunnel has reached 4.29km.

“The total length of each Genting tunnel, the only twin tunnel of the ECRL project, is 16.39km.

“In addition, a total of 25 tunnels have been successfully penetrated as of Aug 25, including 21 tunnels in Section A and Section B while the remaining four tunnels are under Section C,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Sept 19).

With this, Loke said the ECRL construction is on track to be completed according to schedule which is Dec 31, 2026 from Kota Baru, Kelantan to ITT Gombak in Selangor; while the stretch from Gombak to Port Klang is expected to be completed on Dec 31, 2027.

“The ECRL project will have an agglomeration effect that can increase access to job opportunities and economic centres to stimulate economic activity along the ECRL corridor for a more balanced distribution of socio-economic opportunities.”

On Monday (Sept 18), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government has agreed to approve the ECRL Integrated Land Use Master Plan, or PeGTaECRL.

He said the document would drive development around 20 stations and along the ECRL routes which have been identified.