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JOHOR BAHRU: Work will begin at the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link station site in Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru, later this month, following a virtual launch on November 22.
The release date coincides with Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar’s birthday, according to a post on the ruler’s Facebook page.
The executive director of Malaysia’s Sdn Bhd Rapid Transit System (MRT Corp), Mohd Zarif Hashim, briefed the Sultan about the project at Istana Bukit Pelangi in Johor Bahru on Monday (November 9).
Mohd Zarif updated the Sultan on the RTS project, following its inclusion in the 2021 federal budget, which was recently presented, the publication said.
“During the briefing, we touched on the launch of the project, which will take place online, as well as the final designs for the station.
“We expect to start work on the site towards the last week of November after the official launch,” Mohd Zarif said in the Facebook post.
READ: KL-Singapore HSR – Malaysia intends to continue project given ‘positive multiplier effect’ on economy, Finance Minister says
The RTS Link aims to connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru with Woodlands in Singapore, serving some 10,000 passengers per hour each way to help ease traffic congestion on the Causeway.
It was scheduled to be completed in 2024, but work on the project was suspended.
The suspension was extended three times at the request of Malaysia, with the latest extension until July 31 due to Singapore’s COVID-19 “circuit breaker” measures and Malaysia’s motion control order.
On July 30, a ceremony was held on the Calzada to mark the official resumption of the project. It was witnessed by the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, and his counterpart, Mr. Muhyiddin Yassin.
Malaysian and Singaporean transport ministers Wee Ka Siong and Ong Ye Kung signed the agreements to resume the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link project after a ceremony on the Causeway on July 30, 2020. Behind they are the prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore, Muhyiddin Yassin and Lee Hsien Loong. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Three key agreements needed to resume the RTS Link project were successfully concluded, a statement said at the time. This includes an agreement to amend the Bilateral RTS Link Agreement between the governments of Singapore and Malaysia.
In addition, a joint venture agreement was also concluded between SMRT RTS Pte Ltd of Singapore and Prasarana RTS Operations Sdn Bhd of Malaysia to establish RTS Operations Pte Ltd, as well as an agreement to name it as the operating company for the first concession period of 30 years. .
RTS operations incorporated in Singapore will design, build and finance RTS Link’s operating assets, including trains, tracks and systems.
The company will also operate and maintain the rail line between Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru and Woodlands North in Singapore.
Previously, it was announced that construction will take place in two phases. The development and civil phase will take place from 2021 to the end of 2024, while the commissioning and testing phase will take place from 2025 to the end of 2026.
Passenger service is scheduled to begin in late 2026.
According to the Facebook post on Monday, the sultan has given his consent for MRT Corp to organize a competition to obtain public comments and ideas on the design of the facade of the Bukit Chagar station building.
