Wednesday August 1, 2012
Feasibility study on East Coast Rail Route completed
KUALA LUMPUR: The feasibility study on the East Coast Rail Route covering Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, has been completed.
In announcing this, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the rail route would be built in phases, starting with Phase 1 – a 109km rail track from Kertih to Kuantan.
The proposed 600km route starts from Kuala Lumpur to Tumpat, passing through Mentakab, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Baru, he said.
“The massive project will have a significant impact in terms of improving East Coast Economic Region’s (ECER) connectivity with the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and expediting economic growth within the region,” he said in a statement after chairing the ECER Development Council meeting here yesterday.
Najib, who is also the council’s chairman, earlier chaired the council’s second meeting for the year.
The Prime Minister said Phase 1 of the rail route project would help improve links between the various industrial areas within the East Coast Economic Region Special Economic Zone such as the Gambang halal park and the Kemaman supply base.
The Gebeng Integrated Petrochemical Complex, the Pekan Automotive Park and Palm Oil Industrial Cluster and the Kuantan Port, which would ultimately enhance the port’s competitiveness, would also immensely benefit from the project, said Najib, who is also Finance Minister.
The feasibility study on the integrated rail route started in 2009. — Bernama