Sg Buloh-Kajang MRT line construction advancing at full speed

KUALA LUMPUR -The construction of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line, the first of the three Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines, as at July is advancing at full speed ahead of the major works underway at various stages for both the elevated and underground sections.

"We're certainly moving in the right direction as all elevated packages from V1 till V8 are advancing fast.

"Overall, land clearing, utilities relocation, piling and pier construction works at various stages are moving ahead smoothly at all elevated sections," MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) Sdn Bhd Deputy Construction Director Adil Putra Ahmad said in a statement.

He said the company was gearing towards viaduct construction over the next few months and expects to see a continuous series of piers built along major roads and highways.

It will also soon launch the Launching Gantries (LGs) to build the permanent viaduct guideway. The LG is an advanced construction method that uses a high-strength steel structure to erect and seamlessly join a sequence of Segmental box girders to form the viaduct guideway for the elevated sections.

Currently, the construction company has actively engaged LGs in northern elevated packages V1 and V2, and southern elevated packages V5 and V6, Adil Putra said.

Meanwhile, General Manager Ubull Din Om said all seven underground MRT stations between the Semantan North Portal and Maluri South Portal, namely KL Sentral, Pasar Seni, Merdeka, Bukit Bintang Central, Pasar rakyat, Cochrane and Maluri that form the 9.5Km tunnel alignment are advancing swiftly, with most works centering on diaphragm wall and secant bored pile construction, excavation with multi-level strutting and station floor slab concreting works.

"Particularly, massive excavation is currently taking place at the Pasar Rakyat MRT station, which will be among the deepest of all underground MRT stations at 45m below ground level, while diaphragm wall works, king post installation and utilities relocation takes centrestage at the Bukit Bintang Central MRT station.

"At Merdeka MRT station, we are securing the station box with multi-level strutting to ensure the stability of the station site," Ubull added.

The project, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on July 8, is expected to complete by mid-2017 and become the public transport for about 10 million people by the year 2020. - Bernama