Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs are demanding an explanation from Putrajaya and MRT Corp as to why a 120m underpass costs RM350 million, and are also claiming that the tunnel poses safety concerns.
Kuala Terengganu MP Dato Raja Kamarul Baharin of PAS, who is an accredited architect, argued that a fully automated overhead walkway would only cost RM50 million to construct, with less safety risks.
“They must explain. The cost of building the tunnel is exorbitant while the project itself is risky,” he told a press conference in KL.
The underpass’ RM350 million price tag could better be used for the construction of at least 8,000 low cost homes, he said.
Despite widespread criticism, MRT Corp, the government subsidiary behind the mass rapid transit project, unveiled the plan to build the tunnel linking the train station near the National Museum to KL Sentral.
Previously, MRT Corp proposed the construction of a full-length underground tunnel costing RM800 million, but was rejected by the Federal Government. The underpass tunnel will be built by MRT Corp and its project delivery partner Gamuda Bhd.
Story: The Malay Mail Online
