BUTTERWORTH: The Ipoh-Padang Besar electrified railway double tracking project will be completed according to schedule in 2013, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
WINDFALL: Ong (left) presents a cheque to a squatter affected by the double track project. — Bernama photo
He said that although the project had faced some slight delays following problems in land acquisition, it would not affect the overall schedule.
“The progress target in Nov 2009 should have been 47.2 per cent but we only achieved 34.3 per cent. This was a deviation of 12.8 per cent,” he told reporters after handing over compassionate aid to squatters affected by the project, here yesterday.
A total of 131 squatters received RM42,000 each at the function.
Ong projected the deviation in the schedule to drop from 12.8 per cent to five per cent once the land acquisition problems were settled.
“It does not mean if delays are encountered the project cannot be completed according to schedule. We can speed up laying of the tracks,” he said, adding that project work on the tracks undertaken by MMC-Gamuda JV was now proceeding smoothly in Perak, Kedah, Penang and Perlis.
The project involving electrified double tracking over a distance of 329 kilometres costs RM12.485 billion. — Bernama