by ANIS HAZIM/ pic source mymrt.com.my

MASS Rapid Transport Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) is currently finalising MRT Line 3’s alignment and awaiting the government’s approval.

MRT Corp CEO Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim (picture) said there have been many speculations on the alignment since it was announced in July 2021 but none of them were true.

“The alignment has more or less been finalised except for a few areas, but we have yet to get any approval,” Mohd Zarif said at the recent virtual City Expo Malaysia 2021.

He said the business model for the MRT3 or also known as Circle 3 will be based on a hybrid model.

“The business model includes government funding and private sector participation.

“The private sector will come in as a private finance initiative and they would eventually get the return investment over a certain number of periods,” he said.

The route for MRT3 is expected to underline 50km spanning 30 or more stations around Kuala Lumpur, with 40% of the route being underground.

The group also planned to turn its MRT stations into e-commerce hubs and transporting courier items hubs.

“We have a lot of spaces at our stations that we are currently renting out as retail spaces and small kiosks.

“We are also proposing to build kiosks such as postal boxes at our MRT stations, so the public can rent to deliver and receive their items,” added Mohd Zarif.

In the meantime, he said that the MRT3 is still undergoing several processes which will be announced by the end of the year.

“I hoped to share more about the ongoing MRT3 line in the upcoming City Expo Malaysia in October as the project is still being finalised,” he said.