Tuesday, November 24, 2009

136 contractors keen on RM7bil LRT extension project

A total 136 companies have shown interest to participate in Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd’s open tender bidding for the RM7bil extension of its two light rail transit (LRT) lines project in the Klang Valley.
Group managing director Datuk Idrose Mohamed said the 136 contractors had collected pre-qualification forms from Prasarana to be submitted in a month’s time for assessment and shortlisting of candidates to bid for the project.
StarBiz had previously reported that analysts predicted UEM Builders Bhd, IJM Corp Bhd, Gamuda Bhd and Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd are likely major contractors to be involved, based on their experience in LRT projects.
Prasarana would also assess the feedback from the three-month public display for the proposed LRT line extension ending Dec 14, said Idrose.
“If everything goes well, the construction of the LRT extensions will start in the first quarter of next year,” he told reporters after the opening of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Asia Pacific Seminar by Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah yesterday.
When completed in three years, the LRT extension is expected to double the current daily passenger volume of 170,000 for Ampang LRT and 180,000 for Kelana Jaya LRT.
On a more short-term development of Prasarana, Husni said the company would start its four-car train service in stages beginning next month.
“Four sets of the train will be delivered every quarter in 1½ years,” he said, adding that RM1bil had been invested in acquiring 35 sets of the four-car trains.
In terms of buses, he said the open tender to supply 400 new buses for Prasarana that closed recently attracted 12 bidders.
“The company is currently evaluating the bidders and the delivery of the buses will be in stages starting from the first quarter of next year,” he said.
Husni said these positive developments was in line with the Government’s national key result areas to increase public transport usage to 25% by 2012 from the current 16%.
The three-day seminar with the theme Making Public Transport of Tomorrow Happen is organised by Prasarana subsidiary, Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn Bhd, will see some 100 international delegates discuss issues in the public transport industry.
Prasarana chairman Tan Sri Izzuddin Dali said the seminar provides a platform for world-wide cooperation, business development and sharing of know-how of the industry.

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