The Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT) Mutiara Line project remains on schedule, as confirmed by the project owner, Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp). The company stated it has exhibited significant progress over the past three months, with a notable milestone being the recent approval of advance works under Section 20A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, which was granted on 15 April.
MRT Corp has also reported substantial advancements in land acquisition, having secured access to 86 plots of land and completed the gazettement under Section 8 of the Land Acquisition Act 1960. This achievement has been realised ahead of the initial October 2025 deadline, marking a significant step forward in maintaining the project timeline.
Furthermore, SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd, appointed as the main civil contractor for Package 1, is currently addressing several post-award conditions stipulated in the contract. The official Notice to Proceed will be issued only once these conditions are satisfactorily fulfilled. MRT Corp explained, “As the design-and-build civil contractor for Package 1, SRS must finalise the designs and construction drawings for the civil structures within the project scope after receiving the NTP. Another critical aspect of pre-construction work is the relocation of utilities, which must be completed before any station or viaduct-related construction activity can occur.”
This clarification was issued following a news report that quoted MCA vice-president Tan Teik Cheng, who raised concerns about the project’s status, noting the absence of an official commencement notice despite the formal launch in January.
The 29.5 km Mutiara Line will encompass 21 strategically placed stations, designed to enhance connectivity across Penang Island and the mainland, reduce traffic congestion, and improve accessibility. Its base alignment will connect Penang South Reclamation’s Island A to both Penang Sentral and the Komtar Station in George Town, with trains operating on alternate routes for broader coverage.
