THE Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Putrajaya Phase 1 line will not be open for revenue service this month as scheduled due to incomplete testings.

Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) chief executive officer Mohd Zarif Hashim said the line may be ready for revenue service in the second quarter (Q2) of 2022.

MRT trains have clocked up 3,000 hours of trial operations and large amount of data had been gathered.

“Having gone through the data ourselves, we detected that out of hundreds of subsystem modules being implemented, two modules require further refinement.

“We need to ensure all primary, secondary and tertiary layers of the systems are stable before we take possession of the asset and clear it for operations,” he told a media conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

The trial operations for the MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 1 section has been ongoing since April 29.

A total of 16 trains have been running between Kwasa Damansara MRT and Skampung MRT stations in full-service mode but without passengers to stimulate actual operations.

Zarif said the company has been conducting many trial operations, including final detailed inspections.

The refinement of the subsystem is necessary to rectify the tertiary data issue, he said, adding that this is to ensure that the service could operate in an impeccable state. 

“So, we have no other choice except to delay the opening of the MRT Putrajaya Phase 1 Line.

“As a result, MRT Corp is not able to take possession of the asset of the line from the appointed turnkey contractor,” Zarif said.

Updating on the MRT3 Circle Line project, he said it is still on the table. 

“We are finalising for funding plans with the government. Give us more time to finalise the funding plan and we hope to come back to you in the early part of next year,” he said.

He expects tender for the project to open by Q3 of 2022. – Bernama, November 16, 2021.