NEARLY RM10bil has been saved on the LRT3 project despite the reinstatement of several components from its original scope.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the total cost of the LRT3 project now stands at RM21.93bil, still RM9.72bil less than the originally approved cost of RM31.65bil when the project was first introduced in 2015.

The savings were achieved following a restructuring exercise in 2018, which initially reduced the cost to RM16.63bil.

However, in 2024, the government decided to reinstate several components, including five additional stations, seven three-carriage trains, an expanded train depot in Johan Setia, 150 electric shuttle buses and the construction of three bus depots.

“These reinstatements added RM5.3bil to the total cost,” Loke said in a written reply yesterday.

He added that as of July 10, the LRT3 line connecting Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya to Johan Setia in Klang had reached 99.21% completion.

The project faced delays largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted works between March 2020 and October 2021.

“The MCO caused shortages of skilled and semi-skilled labour. Foreign worker entry permits were only resumed in November 2023,” Loke said.

He also noted that the MCO triggered supply chain disruptions and shortages in building materials, particularly steel and cement.

Loke was responding to a question by Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan (PN-Permatang Pauh), who had asked about the reasons for the delay and the increase in project cost.