PUTRAJAYA: The Section C or the northern alignment of the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) from Mentakab to Port Klang has been reverted to the original alignment as proposed in 2016-2017, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

He said the Cabinet had, on Sept 2 last year, approved the alignment, and in a meeting on March 31, pushed for immediate implementation of the northern alignment project, which connects Mentakab to Port Klang through Bentong, Gombak and Serendah.

"The implementation of the northern alignment will increase the viability of the ECRL and thus, provide more economic, environmental and social benefits," he said at a special media conference on ECRL here today.

Wee said the northern alignment, now dubbed the ECRL 3.0 alignment, is estimated to cover a total of 201 kilometres (km) including 32.4 km of deviation compared to the ECRL 2.0 previous alignment of 185.5 km including 41.5 km of deviation.