New Delhi - The Indian Railways has won a 1-billion-dollar contract to construct a 103 kilometre high-speed rail segment in Malaysia, a newspaper report said Friday. IRCON International Ltd., a subsidiary of the Indian Railways was awarded the project for building an electrified double line (two parallel tracks) between Seremban and Gemas in southern Malaysia, the Indian Express daily reported.
The formal signing of the contract is scheduled to take place on May 16, during Indian Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's visit to Malaysia. Malaysia's Transport Minister, Ong Tee Keat, will also be present at the event, the report said.
"The project is significant since we will be executing it on a turnkey basis. In addition to designing and building the double line, we will be doing the electrification and signaling works too," a senior IRCON official told the Express.
The official added that the project, which involves construction of 34 river bridges and 13 road overbridges, was to be completed within four years.
The Seremban-Gemas stretch is part of the double-tracking of Malaysia's north-south railway. The project was postponed in late 2003 as part of measures to trim the national budget deficit.
IRCON is India's third largest construction company and specializes in railways, railway electrification, signal and telecommunication and construction of roads, highways and airports.
It has completed more than 280 infrastructure projects in India and 90 projects globally in 21 countries including Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Nigeria and Britain.
