Opposition politicians had questioned the new railway’s projected cost of RM91.7 million per kilometre, but economics minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan said all railway projects were unique.
By comparison, he quoted the projected cost of RM257.14 million per km for Penang’s proposed 7.5km passenger-only LRT project from Komtar to Penang airport.
Abdul Rahman’s statement came in response to comments by opposition MPs Rafizi Ramli, Tony Pua and Dr Hatta Ramli, who quoted costs for double-tracking railway projects on the West Coast of RM44 million per kilometre for Ipoh-Padang Besar and RM39.8 million per kilometre for Gemas-Johor Bahru.
However, the minister said the RM55 billion East Coast railway was a fresh greenfield project (one on fresh land without constraints from prior work).
“This leads me to question what kind of desperation would lead three allegedly competent MPs to compare the cost of double-tracking projects with a greenfield rail project?” said Abdul Rahman.
The double-tracking projects involved electrification and laying of parallel tracks to replace the existing single track railway on less challenging terrain and fewer requirements for tunnels and bridges.
The electrified double-track line from Ipoh-Padang Besar was completed while work is about to begin on the 179km Gemas-Johor Bahru track
However, the East Coast railway “will cut through our most challenging Titiwangsa mountain range and requires at least 110km of multiple bridges, 50km of multiple tunnels, entirely new stations, depots, signalling systems and supporting infrastructure,” Abdul Rahman said today in a statement.
“There would also be 88km of new tracks connecting the densely populated areas of Gombak with Port Klang that adds considerably to the cost.”
The minister, who oversees the Economic Planning Unit which approves large government infrastructure projects, also questioned the cost of other transport projects undertaken by the Pakatan Harapan state government in Penang.
Abdul Rahman quoted figures provided by the DAP-led state government to show feasibility and design costs alone of RM10.3 million per km for 20.3km of paired roads and RM13.2 million per km for a proposed 7.2km cross-channel tunnel.
He said the state government had described the total cost of RM305 million for the two reports to be “reasonable and within limits”.
Abdul Rahman also pointed out that construction costs for three paired roads came to RM91 million per km and while the tunnel would cost RM513 million per km.
“And these are without electrification, train stations, the actual trains and carriages, depots or signalling systems required for rail system – before taking into account land acquisition costs or the 30 years toll concession,” he said.
He said a proposed 7.5km passenger-only LRT project from Komtar to Penang airport was projected to cost RM257.14 million per km.
The minister urged the opposition not to continue making criticism based on costs per kilometre as all railway projects around the world were unique.