Land Acquisition Process Delays MRT3 Construction
KUALA LUMPUR: The on-site construction of the Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3) project may not begin until 2027, according to MRT Corp’s CEO, Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim. The delay is due to the ongoing land acquisition process that needs to be completed first.
Currently, public inspections are in progress, and the process will continue until December 2. Once this is done, MRT Corp plans to finalize the alignment, followed by a land acquisition phase expected to take up to two years, which could extend into 2026.
Targeted Project Launch in 2027, Dependent on Economic Factors
“We are hopeful that by 2027, we’ll have sufficient government support to move forward,” Zarif said. “It’s my personal goal, though it will depend on the economic conditions. With the economy improving, I believe it will provide a strong foundation to proceed,” he added during a press briefing at the Malaysian Construction Industry Excellence Awards (MCIEA 2024).
MRT Corp’s Recognition at MCIEA 2024
MRT Corp was honored with the “Best Project Award in Infrastructure (Major Category)” for the Klang Valley MRT project at this year’s MCIEA. The MRT3, also known as the Circle Line, will complete the MRT network, linking various transit systems to enhance connectivity. The 51km rail line will serve up to 25,000 passengers per hour in each direction, with an estimated travel time of 73 minutes for the entire journey.