The joint venture between Gamuda and MMC has been awarded the contract to build the 329 km Ipoh-Padang Besar double-tracking project at a fixed cost of MYR12.5 billion. The design phase of the project is worth MYR420 million. The track doubling of the northern portion of the Kuala Lumpur-Thai border line, which forms a key section of the planned Singapore-Kunming rail link, will include the 3.3 km-long Bukit Berapit tunnel, Southeast Asia's longest rail tunnel, in Perak state. The double tracking project is made up of 171 kilometres from Ipoh to Butterworth and another 158 kilometres from Bukit Mertajam to Padang Besar. The scope of works encompasses two new electrified tracks to be constructed away from the existing track, but still within the current reserve of the national railway company KTMB. Only under extreme circumstances will land acquisition be required. Gamuda and MMC will be directly involved in only 20% of the project with the balance to be outsourced to local companies and contractors. A total 330 packages involving the construction of 100 bridges, 30 station buildings, 180 km of culverts and 300 km of drainage works will be awarded to these contractors. Works will start in two to five months after most of the designs are finished. The project will take five years to complete. Read E-News Weekly 24/2006. Visit www.gamuda.com.my and www.mmc.com.my 05/08.