MRT underground works

This video is from MRT Corp that illustrates what will be done on underground stations along the Sungai Buloh - Kajang Line.

It includes the major stations works (e.g Cochrane and Bukit Bintang Central) and usage of boring machines.

Tunnel Drive for Sungai Buloh-Kajang line

Sky bridge to KL Sentral Monorail

KVMRT managed to get an official update about the on-going construction of KL Sentral sky bridge linking KL Sentral Monorail station via Nu Sentral.

We have some photos to show. The sky bridge will definitely helped to ease the long walking distance that commuters have to take currently.

With the sky bridge, it only can be considered as proper interchange station between KL Monorail and KL Sentral.

A brief elaboration about Nu Sentral, it is a seven-storey retail mall (gross floor area of 1.2 million square feet) done by joint venture between MRCB and Pelaburan Hartanah Bhd. Claimed to be first integrated ‘green’ lifestyle retail mall.

The retail, dining and entertainment elements have been seamlessly planned across the vast floor area of the mall; for an enthralling experience.

The architectural design concept complements the Masterplan of the integrated Kuala Lumpur Sentral and its ‘live, work, play’ components.

Artist impression of sky bridge near the present exit to KL Monorail

From the artist impression, the sky bridge is fully air-conditioned and an easy access to Nu Sentral.

Signboard about the project

Supporting structure of the new sky bridge

The view from end of Monorail platform level. 

From above, there is a possibility of new fare gates and paid area will exist in Nu Sentral. The existing paid and unpaid area of the KL Sentral Monorail station is a total mess and is congested during peak hours.

This is an improvement to the integration of stations in KL Sentral and certainly a welcome news as KL Sentral MRT station is under-way.

Note: All photos above are taken from Skyscapercity.com Any misuse is not intended and we shall held no responsible for any loss suffered from the use of the information.

Jln Sultan, Bkt Bintang inked POA

KVMRT have to update the latest dispute between Committee to Preserve Jalan Sultan and Jalan Bukit Bintang (PJSJBB) and MRT Corp on "signing an agreement with project owner MRT Corp to vacate their property".

The question is have they inked the deal with MRT Corp?

The answer is yes for Points of Agreement (POA) which was a step towards formulating a final binding mutual agreement (MA).

The POA terms which will be incorporated in the MA had included the withdrawal of any land acquisition plans by the government a guarantee that no existing building would be demolished the relocation of occupants for a maximum six-month period and the endorsement of land titles to state the existence of an MRT tunnel beneath the six properties.

Almost all of 21 lots in Jalan Bukit Bintang and 1 of 23 lots affected in Jalan Sultan have signed POA.

Arguments
The committee co-chair Yong Yew Wei or Stanley Yong claimed "until today no landowner in Jalan Bukit Bintang Jalan Sultan or Jalan Inai has signed a mutual agreement They have only signed points of agreement POA which are not legally binding"

Their lawyers were still negotiating with MRT Corp over “a lot of conditions we find unacceptable ”

The issue of compensation was irrelevant until a social impact assessment to study the effect on the daily lives of up to 30 000 residents and a soil investigation report to ensure construction works will not damage property were completed.

KVMRT also quoted this saying from Stanley Yong in The Star article

On the proposed realignment to Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock and the MRT Corp claim that it required the demolition of 29 buildings, Yong said, “Jalan Sultan is half the width of Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock; if tearing down buildings of that magnitude is necessary on a much wider road, it would only be worse in the case of Jalan Sultan,” he said.

Did Mr Yong missed out the point? Lots that are demolished only for station entrance and air vent purpose. Other than that, buildings will not be touched.

As to the point of Jalan Sultan, MRT Corp said only UDA Ocean, Klang Bus Stand and Plaza Warisan will be demolished.

How can Mr Yong claimed that more buildings in Jalan Sultan would be taken down without studying the statement of MRT Corp.

Proposed Pasar Seni MRT station

Jalan Sultan and realignment

Just in case you miss out, MRT Corp released a report about the controversial acquisition and realignment. It is accessible at MRT website.

The main content of the report includes background and overview, final alignment, land acquisition, social and environmental impact and continuous engagement.

(KVMRT) would only highlight the issue on final alignment and land acquisition for the interest of public.

The final alignment was determined using a three step process:-

Step 1: The first step is the establishment of fixed points along the corridor in which the MRT alignment must serve. These are major developments, centres of activity and landmarks. These points are densely populated areas, activity centres such as the Central Business District, shopping centers or office blocks or areas where there is potential future growth.

Step 2: Secondly, the alignment has to connect these fixed points. To arrive at the best alignment, a balance of six factors are given due consideration:-

 Social impact to be minimized

 Land acquisition to be minimized

 Journey time to be optimized

 Constructability (taking into consideration technical and ground conditions)

 Integration with existing and future public transport networks

 Ridership to be maximized and stations to be easily accessible

Step 3: Changes following public feedback gathering process.

Final alignment at Jalan Sultan/Jalan Petaling

The final alignment in the Jalan Sultan/Jalan Petaling area was determined using the three-step process described above.

The first step was the establishment of fixed points which the MRT alignment must serve. In this case the fixed points were the Pasar Seni LRT Station and future development at the former Merdeka Stadium and Stadium Negara area.

Pasar Seni LRT Station was identified as a fixed point because it will be the interchange point between the new MRT line and the existing Kelana Jaya LRT system. This integration point is crucial because it will enable users of the LRT system to change to the MRT and viceversa without needing to walk too far. Commuters will hop from one network to another without having to buy new tickets.

Another fixed point is the proposed Menara Warisan mixed development project where the present Merdeka Stadium and Stadium Negara are located. It will be a major centre of activity and will house a very large population of office and retail outlet workers.

Convenient access to public transport is critical to cater to such a large number of people and such a high level of activity.

The second step was to ensure that the alignment connected these fixed points taking into account the six factors mentioned above:-

 Social impact would be minimized because the final alignment reduces the number of buildings that need to be acquired for or affected by the project

 Land acquisition is minimised and will only involve government-owned properties namely Pasarama Kota, Plaza Warisan and Plaza UO

 Journey time is optimized because the final alignment is a more direct route

 Constructability along Jalan Sultan is good because the area has suitable soil conditions, no major obstructions, and the alignment managed to avoid tight curves

 The final alignment integrates with the Kelana Jaya LRT line as well as the proposed Warisan Merdeka

 The location of the station at Pasarama Kota is adjacent to the activity center of the Jalan Sultan/Jalan Petaling area thus making the station readily accessible to a major catchment area, thus having good potential ridership

The third step involved public scrutiny of the alignment where feedback was received during the three month period from February 14 to May 14, 2011. During this period, alternative alignments were proposed and these alignments were studied in great depth to find out if they were suitable.

Note: All information above is by MRT Corp. Any usage and copyright issue is not intended to be violated if any.

MMC-Gamuda wins MRT tunnelling job

Yesterday, MRT Corp announced the award of the underground package of the MY Rapid Transit (MRT) Sungai Buloh-Kajang line to a joint venture comprising MMC Corporation Bhd and Gamuda Bhd (MMC-Gamuda JV).

Logo of MMC-Gamuda

The decision comes after One Stop Procurement Committee (OSPC) meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, YAB Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak at Parliament.

It is known that MMC Gamuda bid price of RM8.2 billion to design and build the 9 5km MRT underground tunnel and seven underground stations, was 3.4 per cent lower than the second lowest offer.

MMC-Gamuda Joint Venture was one of five companies or joint ventures which pre-qualified under a stringent set of criteria to tender the underground package of the MRT project. The other tenderers were Hyundai-Gadang-Chengal Jaya Joint Venture, Taisei Corp, Sinohydro Group Ltd, and the China Railway Group Ltd.