KUALA LUMPUR: The government is planning to award the Mass Rapid Transit Line 3 (MRT3) Circle Line contracts as early as October this year.

       Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the MRT 3 project will be implemented through the turnkey contractor model, which he said will be divided into five packages.

       In addition, he said the government will appoint a contractor project management consultant (PMC) to manage the MRT 3 project together with MRT Corp.

       “The tender will be separated into five main packages, including two turnkey contractors for elevated works, one turnkey for underground works, one for integrated systems and one for PMC to work alongside MRT Corp as the project developer,” he told reporters at the MRT 3 press conference on Tuesday.

       “We plan to open the tender process in May and award the turnkey contracts in the fourth quarter of this year,” he added.

       Wee said the MRT 3 project will be financed through Sukuk issuance and estimated that the project to be fully operational in 2030.

       “However, we expect the contractors also need to obtain funds for them to take on construction work,” he added.