KUALA LUMPUR, January 19 – The first segment of Penang’s Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is set to cost at least RM8.31 billion, excluding land acquisition, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced at the contract signing between MRT Corporation and SRS Consortium. The first segment will cover a 29.5km alignment from Penang South Reclamation Island-A (PSR-A) to Komtar, featuring 19 stations.
The project has three major tender packages. Tender 1 involves civil construction for Segment 1, which spans 23.7km in one direction from PSR-A to Komtar. Tender 2, expected to open in Q3 2025, will cover the extension from Macallum to Penang Sentral on the mainland, including a 3.2km sea-crossing bridge. Tender 3, encompassing the railway systems’ design, testing, and maintenance, has already attracted interest from local and international bidders, with submissions due by April 14, 2025.
The Mutiara LRT line will feature three key interchange stations: Komtar, Macallum, and Penang Sentral. These stations will enhance connectivity with KTM Komuter, ETS services, and future metro lines. Park N Ride facilities will include over 1,000 parking bays each for cars and motorcycles. Trains will have a capacity of 405 passengers per car, with an initial frequency of every four minutes, utilizing driverless Grade of Automation 3 technology.
The project is part of Penang’s long-term transport master plan to improve mobility and ease traffic congestion. The federal government will manage project costs transparently, with Transport Minister Loke emphasizing the importance of optimal spending and competitive bidding processes. The first phase of the Mutiara LRT line is expected to commence operations by 2031.
