Penang Mutiara Line LRT Project Set to Complete in 2030

The Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that the cabinet has approved the Penang Mutiara Line LRT project which will begin construction this year, with completion expected by 2030.

Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp), a subsidiary of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOF), has been chosen as project owner and developer.

Meanwhile, SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd (SRS) was awarded the civil construction contract for Segment 1 (Silicon Island to Komtar) following a single-sourcing request for proposal from the Penang state government. Notably, SRS was the project partner for the Penang Transport Master Plan, which was won in an open tender in August 2015.

MRT Corp and SRS are now in negotiations, with a six-month timeframe before making the decision. Meanwhile, building contracts for Segment 2 (Komtar to Penang Sentral) will be given via an open tender process.

Furthermore, Loke stated that all contracts awarded would be for the purpose of building, maintaining and at last transfer basis. He, however, declined to provide the project's cost, citing continuing talks.

Furthermore, a rolling stock operations depot will be built beside the integrated transit-oriented development at Tapak Pesta, Sungai Nibong. Once fully operational, both of these projects will provide additional non-fare income, which can be critical for the Penang LRT's ongoing maintenance.

The Mutiara Line LRT will run from Silicon Island to Komtar and then on to Penang Sentral in Seberang Perai, connecting to the existing KTM Komuter and ETS railway lines.

This route spans 29 km long and contains 20 stops, including crucial interchange points at Komtar and Penang Sentral stations.