KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 18): Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) has appointed Arup Jururunding Sdn Bhd (Arup Jururunding) as the underground reference design consultant for Klang Valley MRT Line 2, the MRT Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line (SSP Line),

The contract sum is at RM44.4million for a period of 32 months.

In a statement issued today, MRT Corp said that the RM4.44million contract is the first contract to be awarded for the 59.5km SSP Line. The underground section of the line will have a length of 10.2km.

Datuk Wira Azhar Abdul Hamid, MRT Corp Chief Executive Officer said the appointment of design consultant signalled that the preliminary work for the MRT Line 2 had started.

“With progress for the Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line having past its midway point, it is vital that preparatory works for Line 2 starts,” he said.

Arup Jururunding’s scope of work covers the reference design for the underground section of the MRT Line 2. This includes eight new underground stations and fitting up of the Tun Razak Exchange Station which was built as part of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line as the interchange station between the two lines, MRT Corp said.

Arup Jururunding will also produce the reference design for all other operational buildings and structures such as tunnels, portals, shafts, cross-overs, sidings and ventilation, it added.

Under the contract, Arup Jururunding will assist MRT Corp with the tender process for the underground works package for MRT Line 2.

The tender process includes drawing up tender documents, evaluating technical submissions from tenderers and carrying out the design and technical review of the Civil Design and Build Contractor’s design development and submission, it added.

MRT Corp pointed out that Arup Jururunding, one of seven companies which submitted tenders for the contract, was chosen based on their technical and financial submissions as well as strong global track record in MRT and related previous experiences.

MRT Line 2 will run from Sungai Buloh to Serdang and Putrajaya, covering a distance of approximately 59.5km. The elevated alignment runs a total length of approximately 49.3km, and the underground section is 10.2km. The line will have 40 stations, of which nine will be underground stations.

Construction of MRT Line 2 was approved by the government in February and MRT Corp was appointed the line’s developer and asset owner. The government recently named MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) Sdn Bhd as the Project Delivery Partner.