PENANG: Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) has awarded the RM2.69 billion Civil Main Contract 2 (CMC2) package for the Mutiara Line light rail transit (LRT) project to a joint venture comprising China Communications Construction Company, TRC Construction and Ufuk Semarak.
The joint venture, known as CCCC-TRC-UFUK JV, will undertake the design and construction of an estimated 5.5km alignment linking Macallum on Penang island to Penang Sentral on the mainland.
A key feature of the alignment is a 3.05km sea-crossing bridge, which will include navigational spans to allow maritime traffic to pass through to the ports of Prai and Butterworth.
The extension will provide a direct rail link between Penang island and Seberang Prai, connecting to Penang Sentral’s multimodal transport hub for transfers to KTM services, ferries and buses.
Upon completion, the journey between Komtar and Penang Sentral is expected to take about eight minutes.
MRT Corp chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim said the contract award brought Penang closer to establishing a seamless rail connection between the island and mainland.
“This extension reflects the vision of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who recognised that an investment of this magnitude must benefit communities on both sides of the strait,” he said in a statement.
Zarif said the prime minister’s goal was to ensure the project drives more inclusive economic development and opens up fresh opportunities for the public.
“With CMC2 now awarded, we are taking an important step towards fulfilling that aspiration.
“Our responsibility is to deliver not just the infrastructure, but the lasting benefits it promises,” Zarif added.
MRT Corp said construction of the Mutiara Line LRT had reached 16 per cent completion and remained on schedule.
It added that comprehensive traffic management plans were being implemented in collaboration with relevant authorities to minimise disruptions to commuters during construction.
In August, MRT Corp awarded the RM3.03 billion system turnkey contract for the Mutiara Line LRT to a joint venture between Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) and Theta Edge Bhd.
The award enabled railway systems design and integration works to proceed alongside ongoing civil construction, marking another milestone in the development of Penang’s first metro rail system.