- AlloyMTD Group of Malaysia, through its local unit MTD Philippines, Incorporated wants to bring Malaysia’s SMART Tunnel to PH
- The road tunnel project, which is worth P40 billion can be transformed into a storm drainage
- Proposed infra project is calculated to take in enough water from 6-day rain
A P40-billion road tunnel that can transform into a storm drainage under the state-run Philippine National Railways (PNR) tracks is expected to be introduced by the AlloyMTD Group of Malaysia, through its local unit MTD Philippines, Incorporated.
MTD Philippines president Isaac David was quoted in an article written by Chrisee Dela Paz on Rappler as saying: “We are interested to add value to MPIC’s (Metro Pacific Investments Corporation) NLEX (North Luzon Expressway)-SLEX (South Luzon Expressway) Connector Road project. We want a below-ground tunnel, so it will have 3 levels.”
The proposed infrastructure, according to David, will resemble the one they had built in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel or SMART tunnel.
David disclosed that initial talks with the MPIC regarding the use of the right-of-way of PNR to make a tunnel detention was already done as he added that PNR alignment is the best location for the project because the biggest risk, which is right of way, is negated.
Dubbed SMART Manila, the MTD official said the proposal include building openings that permit waterways to enter it, be diverted away from the city, and convert it to potable water.
In addition to this, an early warning system closes the tunnel to vehicular traffic before water is allowed to flow into it. The tunnel is also expected to reduce traffic in the metropolis during the dry season.
Based on the disclosure of the MTD official, the project will be patterned with the design concept of SMART Tunnel in Kuala Lumpur, which is said to be calculated to take in enough water from a 6-day rain.
With the start of the operation, the tunnel has prevented catastrophic flash floods which ended the serious problem that has beset Kuala Lumpur residents.
As such, David cited that huge investments for the infrastructure proposal is needed as he further noted it has never been a problem for AlloyMTD to finance big contracts, as it is used to long-term financial conditions with funds coming from the operations of 15 different countries.
According to David, they are able to manage their funds but they can only provide an equity portion in the Philippines foreseeing about a part of the cost of the projects being funded by the company while some will be financed by banks.
Malaysia-based AlloyMTD is an infrastructure and construction group which presently operates in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the US, the UK, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Chile, and China.
In connection, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) now welcomes mega-companies that are interested to match MPIC’s NLEX-SLEX Connector Road unsolicited proposal.
The MPIC’s original unsolicited proposal involved a 13.5-kilometer elevated road that will connect North and South Luzon expressways to include a 5-kilometer common alignment from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) up to Buendia Avenue in Makati City.
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