The five previously cancelled Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) stations are set to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2027 and will be operational by the second quarter of 2028. This update was provided by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah during a question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

According to Hasbi, Prasarana Malaysia Berhad is currently finalising the technical and financial details of the additional contract agreement. He shared that the design scope for the stations, which include Tropicana, Raja Muda, Temasya, Bukit Raja, and Bandar Botanik, is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2024, with physical construction scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025, over a two-year period.

In response to a query from Captain Azahari Hasan (PN-Padang Rengas) regarding the status of the project, Hasbi explained that the government's decision to reinstate these five LRT3 stations was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the tabling of Budget 2024.

Hasbi highlighted that the original cost of the LRT3 project, approved in 2015, was RM31.65 billion. However, following government cost-saving measures in 2018, this was reduced to RM16.63 billion by trimming the scope of the project.

He added that an additional RM5.3 billion will be required for the construction of the five stations, bringing the total cost of the project to RM21.93 billion. "Even with the addition, the current cost remains RM9.72 billion lower than the original estimate. The Ministry of Finance is currently considering funding options for this reinstatement," Hasbi said.

In response to Azahari's follow-up question, Hasbi confirmed that the LRT3 project has accounted for updated daily ridership projections, ensuring the capacity to meet demand, particularly during peak hours.