KUALA LUMPUR: Prasarana Malaysia Bhd has dished out a major contract worth RM1.56 billion to a Chinese-German-Malaysian consortium, marking the start of Light Rail Transit (LRT) line 3 project.
The consortium consisting of CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co Ltd, Siemens Ltd China and Tegap Dinamik Sdn Bhd will design, supply and commission 42 six-car light rail vehicles for the 37km stretch linking Bandar Utama and Klang.
Prasarana president and group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Azmi Abdul Aziz said the remaining three main work packages valued at about RM2 billion to RM2.5 billion for LRT3 would be awarded only to local companies.
It will announce the successful tenderer by end of August this year.
"How it works is that companies will go through a bidding process and we will evaluate from there. But the remaining work packages are strictly for local companies," he told a press conference after the siging cemony of the RM1.56 billion contract here yesterday.
"There are also other smaller work packages to be announced soon," Azmi added.
Prasarana group chairman Tan Sri Ismail Adam said the LRT3 project is officially underway.
"This award shows that our construction is gaining momentum. With the three companies' proven track record, experience and quality of delivery, I am confident that work will be completed within time and cost," Ismail said.
Prasarana said the LRV work package is considered one of the largest work packages for the LRT3 project.
A total of five companies had pre-qualified for the tender in May 2016.
To-date, 11 out of 59 LRT3 work packages have been awarded. The 59 work packages among which are 10 viaduct guideway and station packages, one underground works package and two train depot work packages.
CRRC Corp Ltd chairman Liu Hualong said the consortium will provide the necessary experience and skill sets to ensure the smooth delivery of the works involved.
“We are looking forward to provide the Malaysian commuters with the delivery of superior LRVs that will ensure reliable performance and topmost quality.”
Able to to carry 1,271 passengers per LRV, the vehicles are Malaysia's first six-car driverless trains.
In terms of capacity, each LRV is equivalent to 28 units of single-deck buses.