KUALA LUMPUR: Work have started picking up to kick start the estimated RM7 billion light rail transit (LRT) extension jobs in Kuala Lumpur.  

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd, a unit of the Ministry of Finance that oversees public infrastructure projects, has invited locally incorporated companies to submit the “expression of interest (EOI)” to participate in the extension and upgrading of the KL light rail transit system project.

The EOI is for consultancy, civil works, mechanical and electrical jobs. “It is sort of a pre-qualification bidding process,” said an industry source. It is learnt that the government is hoping to see construction work start within the next three to four months and is pushing for Prasarana to get the ball rolling.

When contacted by The Edge Financial Daily, a spokesperson from Prasarana said the project details would be announced to the public at the appropriate time.

She added that the EOI had no specific closing date.

The LRT extension job is one of the biggest public spending items in the government’s list this year. The job entails extension of the existing LRT lines to Subang Jaya. The two lines are the Kelana Jaya Line (formerly known as Putra LRT) and the Ampang Line (formerly know as the Star LRT).

Contractors had long set their eyes on the 16km LRT extension projects as there are very few big- ticket items on offer. The other major public infrastructure project is the inter-state raw water transfer project where the award for the main tunnelling job was given out yesterday to a consortium led by Shimuzu Corp of Japan.

On the extension of the LRT lines, it was reported to cost a total of RM7 billion, which include RM1 billion to buy additional rolling stock from Bombardier Inc of Canada. Bombardier has the proprietary technology rights to the existing LRT systems.

The jobs are generally broken into two packages — the civil construction works and mechanical and electrical works. Apart from Bombardier, companies such as Scomi Group, Global Rail Sdn Bhd and the YTL Group are also said to be eyeing a portion of the mechanical and electrical works.

With regard to the civil construction works, reports say that companies such as UEM Builders Bhd, IJM Corp Bhd, Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd, YTL  and Loh & Loh Construction Bhd were expected to bid for the jobs.

Late last year, Prasarana appointed consultants — Minconsult Sdn Bhd and HSS Integrated Sdn Bhd — for the design and consultancy job.

The project management part of the job has been awarded to Opus Group Bhd, a unit of the United Engineers group.

Prasarana is now headed by former POS Malaysia Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Idrose Mohamed. He replaced former chief executive officer Shaipudin Shah Harun who suddenly resigned from Prasarana on Sept 19, 2008.