PAKA: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), the rail project jointly constructed with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), saw the first tunnel breakthrough here in Terengganu today, Xinhua news agency reported.
The breakthrough ceremony of the 1.1km-long single-bore Paka tunnel was attended by officials and representatives of project owners Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd and CCCC.
The ECRL runs from Port Klang to Kelantan.
It is expected to bring more balanced growth to the country by linking its less-developed region in the east coast to the economic heartland in the west coast upon its completion in 2026.
Transport minister Wee Ka Siong said earlier this week that the construction work of the ECRL “is in full swing” and is progressing at an “encouraging” rate of 21.39% as of March 2021.
Work at more than 300 locations will commence by the year-end involving earthworks, bridge construction as well as tunnelling.