Engineering firms from both countries can participate
SINGAPORE and Malaysia will soon call a tender for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) which will connect Johor Bahru and the island republic.
On a one-day introductory visit to Malaysia yesterday, Singapore Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said that engineering companies from both sides of the Causeway will be invited to participate in the tender. According to media reports, RAdm Lui, who is also Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that the rapid transit project was 'on time and on track', and that a tender for engineering studies will be called in the fourth quarter of this year.
'The preparatory work has almost been done (and) a tender will be put out in both Malaysia and Singapore. We'll have a joint team to evaluate this and select a consultant.'
RAdm Lui said that the study will be done in two phases. The first phase involves picking an engineering consultant to look into all options available for the construction of the system, and advise both countries on difficulties and challenges under each option. This will take 11 months.
The joint management committee will then decide which option to go for before the second phase begins. 'Because of such complexities, it will take another 18 months thereafter once we decide on the option,' RAdm Lui was quoted by Channel NewsAsia as saying.
RAdm Lui's visit follows a series of introductory visits to Malaysia by Singapore cabinet ministers in recent weeks. During the visit, he met with his Malaysian counterpart Kong Cho Ha at the Transport Ministry in Putrajaya. Mr Kong said that Malaysia prefers the RTS to be linked to Singapore via an undersea tunnel, which will free up space above the sea for other activities. Ultimately, however, the decision will depend on the outcome of the study, he said.
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