MOT: ECRL construction cost at RM50.27b, development cost at RM24.69b

• The ministry said that the development costs involve the interest during construction, land acquisition, utility transfer and connection fees as well as operating expenses.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 22): The Ministry of Transport (MOT) said the total development cost of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project is now estimated at RM74.96 billion consisting of construction cost at RM50.27 billion, while other development costs amount to RM24.69 billion.

The ministry said that the development costs involve the interest during construction, land acquisition, utility transfer and connection fees as well as operating expenses.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday (Dec 21) announced that the overall cost of the underway ECRL, now referred to as the ECRL 3.0, had been reduced by RM11.01 billion, compared with the overall cost of the ECRL 1.0, which was launched in 2017.

“The total development cost of the ECRL 1.0 amounted to RM85.97 billion, including construction cost of RM66.78 billion and other development costs of RM19.19 billion,” the MOT said.

The ministry said that the ECRL 3.0 managed to bring down the construction cost through a series of contract renegotiations that were finalised in 2019 and 2022.

“Some factors include the comprehensive implementation of value engineering, and the realignment of ECRL tracks on Section C (Temerloh-Serendah-Klang Port) that has contributed to the reduction of the overall construction cost,” it said.

Comparably, based on the MOT’s provided chart, the ECRL 2.0 around 2019 to 2021 had a construction cost of RM44 billion, and development costs of RM22.02 billion.

The ECRL project involves the construction of a 665km railway line, with 20 stations from Kota Bharu to Port Klang. It also involves the construction of the Serendah Bypass, which facilitates the movement of cargo from the north, and railway extension from Station Jalan Kastam to both Westport and Northport terminals.