JOHOR BAHRU - The progress level of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) project is currently 17 per cent complete, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
He said the construction schedule of the national project is running smoothly to ensure the RTS Link infrastructure is completed by December 2024.
According to him, although there have been several challenges, the ministry will try to ensure the bilateral project between the two countries (Malaysia and Singapore) will be accelerated so that its operations set for January 2027, can be implemented.
"I am satisfied with the work progress of the RTS Link project which is at 17 per cent. Technically, there is no issue but just to divert the pipeline belonging to the Public Utilities Authority (PUB) of Singapore.
"The 900 millimetre (mm) and 1,600 mm pipeline diversion has been completed in terms of policy agreements involving the republic and will be tabled in Cabinet soon.
"The ministry will ask Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) to monitor the contractor's performance to speed up the development project in keeping with the schedule," he told reporters when making a surprise visit to the RTS Link project site in Bukit Chagar here today.
Wee said the contractor has been piling for the past few months after which more construction workers will be brought to the construction site.
He said the six development project packages included the depot area, station, as well as Immigration, Customs and Quarantine Complex (ICQ) being undertaken simultaneously which will need more workers.
"MRT Corp is ready to discuss with the Human Resource Ministry to ensure an adequate supply of workers, especially in anticipation of the entry of workers in the construction sector.
"This is among the challenges that we have to fine-tune to ensure there are no delays as this involves two countries and we have signed a bilateral agreement, and the project has to be completed by end of 2026," he said.
Apart from that, Wee said efforts to create alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion after the RTS Link project was completed were also being discussed.
Details to prepare three main entries and exits to the RTS Link from Pandan, Jalan Lingkaran Dalam and Johor Bahru Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) Expressway are also proposed to ensure smooth traffic once the project is completed.
The RTS Link project, which is scheduled to be ready by December 2026, is expected to be able to attract 35 per cent of the 350,000 people who travel via the Johor Causeway daily.
Once complete, the RTS network will be able to carry 10,000 passengers per hour, thus helping to alleviate traffic congestion on highways.
The RTS Link is a four-kilometre rail network connecting Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru and Woodlands in Singapore. - BERNAMA