KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 25): Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), the project owner of the RM55 billion East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, has commenced soil investigation, as well as set up base camps on multiple sites in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.
In a statement today, its chief executive officer Darwis Abdul Razak said the company is now actively involved in the land acquisition processes in the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia.
According to Darwis, the ECRL project garnered interest of some 1,000 local engineering and construction companies of various scale, to be in the running for civil works in the 688-km alignment that links the Klang Valley to the east coast of the peninsula.
"The ECRL pre-qualification exercise to register experienced local subcontractors in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor, attracted a total of 1,118 submissions during the roadshow from Oct 15 to 23," he said. Selangor received the highest number of submissions at 493.
He said China Communications Construction Co Ltd (CCCC), as the main contractor, will shortlist the qualified subcontractors from the pre-qualification exercise to tender for the infrastructure work packages in the ECRL project, noting the process is expected take a few months to complete, as full-scale earthworks commences in early 2018.
“MRL trust the potential companies to be shortlisted for tender would endeavour to participate in this rail project, and that together, we can fully deliver the ECRL project ahead of the 2024 deadline,” Darwis added.
A host of work packages such as earthworks, formation works, drainage works, foundation works, building works and tunneling is being subcontracted by CCCC to Malaysian contractors, in line with the federal government’s commitment for local players to tap the ECRL project.
Darwis said as per the pre-qualification notice for the ECRL project, successful applicants in the exercise would be notified in due time to proceed in the subsequent stages leading to the tender submission. "Preference would be given to the respective states’ registered contractors who are shortlisted to submit competitive tenders."