MALAYSIA’s flagship East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has passed a significant milestone, with over 81 per cent of construction completed along its 665-kilometre alignment stretching from Kota Bharu in Kelantan to Selangor, putting the project firmly on course for completion by December 2026.
Chief executive officer of Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak, confirmed the progress figure following an inspection of works at the Pasir Puteh ECRL Station site on Thursday. He praised the Kelantan state government for its proactive support in land acquisition and stakeholder engagement.
“The work progress of the 43-kilometre alignment in Kelantan has reached 88.86 per cent, contributing significantly to the overall advancement of the project,” he said. “Testing and commissioning activities are expected to begin in June 2026.”
Kelantan’s two ECRL stations, located in Tunjong and Pasir Puteh, are advancing steadily, with construction progress at 69 and 68 per cent respectively. Both are on track for completion by May 2025.
Darwis also reported positive developments in track-laying works throughout the 400-kilometre segment spanning Kelantan, Terengganu and parts of Pahang. Regionally, construction progress stands at 90 per cent in Terengganu and 86 per cent in Pahang.
The ECRL, one of Malaysia’s most ambitious transport infrastructure undertakings, will link the east coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang with Selangor on the west coast, providing faster and more efficient connectivity across Peninsular Malaysia.
The project’s Kota Bharu to Gombak Integrated Terminal stretch is scheduled to be fully completed by the end of 2026 and will commence operations in January 2027.
Addressing local concerns, Darwis noted that engagement sessions with residents, the Land and District Office, local authorities and the Kelantan state government have helped resolve several issues, including recurring flash floods in Pasir Puteh.
“We are committed to resolving every issue to ensure that this project benefits the people and can be completed on schedule,” he said. – April 17, 2025
