A REALIGNED East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) will cost RM6 billion more and has received a tacit approval from the cabinet, The Edge reported today.

Quoting sources, the report said the Transport Ministry was looking to revert to the original plan of the Barisan Nasional government. 

This will raise the project cost to an estimated RM50 billion, which is 13.64% higher than the RM44 billion negotiated by the previous Pakatan Harapan government.

However, the route will now include the Serendah-Port Klang bypass, which will add RM5 billion to the project.

“It (the shift back to the BN alignment) was discussed in the cabinet about two weeks ago – the third week of August or thereabouts – and there were no objections.

“But a key change has been made – the Serendah-Port Klang rail bypass will be included in the plans,” the source said.

The original cost of the project was RM65.5 billion when it was launched in 2017. It was brought down to RM44 billion after the PH government renegotiated the deal last year.

Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said recently that Putrajaya was in the midst of finalising the route and stations under Section C of the ECRL route.

The railway project is divided into three parts – Section A (Kota Baru-Dungun), Section B (Dungun-Mentakab) and Section C (Mentakab-Port Klang). – September 6, 2020.