MALAYSIA: A contract has been awarded for the design and construction of a cross-sea extension to the future LRT Mutiara Line metro which is being built on the island of Penang.

The first phase of the LRT Mutiara (‘Pearl’) Line will cover 23.7 km along Penang Island from Penang South Reclamation Project Island A to Komtar in George Town with 19 stations.

The 2.69bn ringgit Civil Main Contract 2 package awarded by national urban rail project promoter MRT Corp to joint venture of China Communications Construction Co, TRC Construction and Ufuk Semarak covers the design and construction of a 5.5 km extension.

This will start at Macallum on Penang Island and run across the strait to the Penang Sentral transport hub in the Butterworth area of Seberang Perai on the mainland. It will include a 3.05 km long over-sea bridge, which is required to be high enough to ensure that ships can access the ports of Prai and Butterworth.

Penang Sentral is the state’s principal multimodal transport hub, and will provide passengers with a convenient interchange with national railway KTMB, ferries and buses. The journey between Komtar and Penang Sentral is expected to take approximately 8 min, offering commuters a convenient and reliable option for travelling between the island and the mainland.

Announcing the contract award on November 5, MRT Corp CEO Mohd Zarif Hashim said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had ‘recognised from the outset that an investment of this magnitude must benefit communities on both sides of the strait. His aspiration was to ensure that the Mutiara Line serves more people, creates greater opportunities and catalyses more inclusive economic development.’

The opening of the line is planned for the end of 2031.

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