Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) head of infrastructure construction Noor Azlan Salleh said the tunnels would be built on multiple sites along the ECRL alignment, with a total distance of 39.1km.
“These include the 16.3km twin-bore tunnels from Bentong to Gombak, which will make them the longest rail tunnels in Malaysia.
“In Terengganu alone, it will involve the construction of three tunnels with a total distance of 3.3km,” he told reporters during a media visit to the ECRL base camp here today.
Azlan said the ongoing construction of Phase 1 of ECRL, from Kota Bharu, Kelantan, to Gombak, Selangor, was divided into eight sections.
“In Terengganu, there are three sections involved, namely Section 3, from Setiu to Marang, Section 4, from Marang to Kemaman, and Section 5, from Kemaman (Terengganu) to Kuantan.
“The earthwork, constructing the base and satellite camps, as well as creating road access to ECRL construction sites in Terengganu are near completion and the infrastructural work will start next month,” he said.
Azlan said among the locations selected for ECRL’s stations in Terengganu were Kampung Raja, Telaga Papan, Kuala Terengganu, Pengkalan Berangan, Dungun, Kemasik and Chukai.
“Of the total eight stations to be built in Terengganu, four of them are designed for passengers, one for freight, while another three stations will combine passenger and freight.
“Three additional lines will also be built,” he said.
Wildlife crossings
Azlan said MRL had also taken into account the importance of protecting the flora and fauna and the safety of wildlife as the construction of ECRL would involve four permanent forest reserve areas in Terengganu.
“There are four permanent forest reserve areas involved in the ECRL project, namely Bukit Bauk, Kuala Paka, Terendak and Kuala Kemaman.
“We have discussed with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) to build wildlife crossings in the areas involved to ensure the safety of these animals,” he said.
Ministry: ECRL will see forest reserves gone, wildlife displaced