KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — The construction work for the 665-kilometre-long East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has been running smoothly and has reached 67 per cent completion despite several hiccups and challenges throughout its development and implementation phases.
Aimed at improving connectivity and stimulating economic development, the project, which traverses Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Selangor, is set to be an economic game changer, especially in boosting Malaysia’s transportation network. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
The massive infrastructure project, which includes 20 stations connecting the East and West Coasts of the Peninsular, is also a testament to the strong bilateral relationship between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing.
The RM50.2 billion project notched another milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for the ECRL Gombak Integrated Transport Terminal (ITT) Station officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the visiting China’s Premier Li Qiang today.
Speaking to Bernama, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali said Li's presence at the groundbreaking ceremony reflects a strong bilateral relationship between two longstanding partners, which ensures the project's successful implementation under the Beijing-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
It is the first groundbreaking ceremony in Selangor and also marks the beginning of construction for the first station for the ECRL line in the state, which will have a total of five stations.
“This station will serve as the main gateway to the capital city, facilitating ECRL users' travel from Klang Valley to the East Coast states or vice versa. The ECRL will also be connected to the Kelana Jaya LRT Line at Gombak Integrated Terminal, providing a better network and greater passenger capacity.
“The ECRL line, from Kota Bharu in Kelantan to Gombak in Selangor, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and operational by January 2027.
"Travelling time between Kota Bharu to the Klang Valley is anticipated to be around four hours compared to seven hours or more by road during festive seasons. Overall, the progress of the ECRL project is at 67 per cent,” he said.
During a press conference in April, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the ECRL network in Selangor, which spans nearly 120 kilometres, will have five stations: Gombak, Kapar, and the Jalan Kastam Integrated Terminals for passengers only, while the Bandar Serendah and Puncak Alam stations are connecting stations for passengers and cargo.
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Construction works of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) Project is seen near Kampung Padang Raja in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, on March 25, 2023. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
The project's construction phase began with the groundbreaking ceremony in Kuantan, Pahang in August 2017, but the work was suspended in 2018 for financial reasons before resuming in July 2019 at a lower cost.
The ECRL connects state capitals, major urban centres, industrial hubs, ports, airports, and tourism zones and interchanges with existing railway lines in the Peninsular.
MRL, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Minister of Finance (Incorporated), owns the project, and China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) is the main contractor.
Malaysia Institute of Transport (Mitrans) Director Prof Madya Wan Mazlina Wan Mohamed told Bernama that the ECRL is a crucial national infrastructure project to boost regional development and connectivity, improving public transit across its electrified railway network, and connecting urban and rural areas.
It also reduces environmental pollution by transitioning from the use of fuel-based vehicles to an electrified rail network and provides a safe alternative mode of public transport for long-distance journeys.
In March, Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the ECRL serves as a catalyst for socioeconomic growth and is expected to increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product by 3.78 per cent by 2047.
“The ECRL is poised to be a game changer for Malaysia, linking us more closely to the Pan-Asia railway network and enhancing our connectivity with Asean and Eurasia regions,” he said in his keynote address during the Seminar on East Coast Rail Link – Economic Accelerator Project (ECRL–EAP) Business and Investment Opportunities.
Meanwhile, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said that once completed, the project will benefit the real estate sector, among others, due to the effects of urbanisation and the increase in property prices.
In April, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) said the ECRL-EAP, which focuses on industrial parks, logistic hubs, and transit-oriented developments, is anticipated to generate RM1.4 trillion for Malaysia's economy by 2047.
Given that the project is the largest ever to be undertaken along the East Coast alignment, it would be ideal for companies to seize opportunities that arise, with areas that could be further explored, including renewable energy, sustainability products and services, as well as education and training centres.
— Bernama
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The construction work for the 665-kilometres-long East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, as seen in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, on June 19, 2024. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
