A DELEGATION from the Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD), led by its Chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, visited several sites of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line on 8 September 2014.

The delegation, comprising SPAD’s Members of Commission, Chief Executive Officer Encik Mohd Nur Kamal, senior management and officials from its Rail Division, were received by Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Wira Azhar Abdul Hamid.

Also present were MRT Corp Director of Stakeholder Relations and Land Management Encik Haris Fadzilah Hassan and MMC Gamuda KVMRT (T) Sdn Bhd Project Director Mr Satpal Bhogal.

The visit covered the Muzium Negara Station (formerly called the KL Sentral MRT Station), a section of the tunnel between the station and the Semantan Portal and the Sungai Buloh Depot.

The delegation were briefed by MRT Corp Director of Underground Stations Mr Keith Allenby on the progress of the construction of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang’s seven underground stations and the activities being carried out at the Muzium Negara Station. The station is the most advanced in terms of underground station construction.

Director of Underground Tunnelling Mr Blaise Mark Pearce explained to the group the progress made on tunnelling as they walked into the tunnel from the station. The section of tunnels between Muzium Negara Station and the Semantan Portal was the first to be completed using tunnel boring machines.

While travelling from Muzium Negara Station to the Sungai Buloh Depot, the delegation managed to view the entire northern elevated section of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line from their bus. They were given a briefing on the construction of the elevated section by MRT Corp Director of Elevated Construction (Northern) Mr Goh Tze Kh’ng.

At the depot, which is the largest to be built in Southeast Asia, the delegation got to view the progress on trackwork and preparations to receive the first MRT trains, which is expected to take place in November this year. They also toured the various buildings which had been built at the depot. The walkabout there was led by MRT Corp Director for Systems Mr Tom Khella.

The visit ended at the depot and the delegation returning to SPAD’s Headquarters at KL Sentral by bus.