The Ipoh-Padang Besar section of Malaysia’s electrified railway double-tracking project will finish on time in 2013 despite delay, according to the country’s transport minister.

The 12.485bn Ringgit ($3.69bn) project involves laying of 329km of electrified double tracks from the country’s border with Thailand at Padang Besar to Ipoh, capital of Perak state.

The project, which should have been 47.2% complete by November 2009, is running a deviation of 12.8%, according to the minister.

The project is a continuation of the double tracking project from Rawang, north of Kuala Lumpur, to Ipoh, which finished in December 2007.

Work is being carried out by the MMC-Gamuda joint venture consortium.