Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (Prasarana) has shortlisted 28 individual and joint venture (JV) companies that are eligible to bid for various elevated civil works, stations and depot packages under the multi-billion ringgit My Rapid Transit (MRT) infrastructure project.

Prasarana in a statement on Thursday said the tenders comprising works packages for elevated civil works (eight packages), stations (eight packages) and depots (two packages) would be called in stages, beginning next month until December 2012.

"The tender for the first stage, which involves two civil works packages will be issued early next month," said Prasarana group managing director, Shahril Mokhtar.

He said the two packages are a 5.4 km stretch from Taman Bukit Ria to Plaza Phoenix in Cheras and the other covering a 5.2km stretch from Taman Suntex to Bandar Tun Hussein Onn.

Shahril said the 18 works packages were divided into two categories -- open and Bumiputera -- and applicants were evaluated based on several aspects, including financial capabilities, track record, experiences and health and environment practices.

For the JV submissions, he said technical and financial evaluations were carried out on the individual companies, with the total score of their technical and financial points combined based on their equity percentage.

He said the 28 shortlisted companies were chosen from among 195 who submitted applications, following two public advertisements.

Among the companies shortlisted for all three type of packages (elevated civil works, stations and depots) in the open category are Sunway Construction Sdn Bhd, Muhibbah Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd, IJM Construction Sdn Bhd, Gadang Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd and Loh & Loh Construction Sdn Bhd, he added.

Meanwhile, in the Bumiputera category, Naim Engineering Sdn Bhd, Trans Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd, TSR Bina Sdn Bhd, Ahmad Zaki Sdn Bhd, HRA Teguh Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Muhibah Perniagaan & Pembinaan Sdn Bhd were shortlisted for all three type of packages.

Tenders for the other works packages will be announced in due course.

Considered the country's biggest infrastructure project as part of the Greater Klang Valley Master Plan, the MRT will provide the backbone service to the existing public transportation system, and be integrated with the existing LRT, KL Monorail and KTM services.

Cutting through the city centre from Sungai Buloh to Kajang, the new MRT will run for approximately 51 km.

This includes 9.5 km through underground tunnels and be serviced by 27 elevated stations, seven stations underground and depots at Sungai Buloh and Kajang. - Bernama