An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 10, 2025 shows a view of a rain forest crossed by the railway of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia.

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a mega rail project in Malaysia being built by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), runs from Malaysia's largest transport hub, Port Klang, and travels across the peninsula to Kelantan state in northeastern Malaysia.

The rail link is expected to greatly enhance connectivity and bring more balanced growth to the country by linking its less-developed region on the east coast to the economic heartland on the west coast upon its completion.

Since the start of the construction, the ECRL project has adhered to the concept of green development throughout the entire project cycle. 

Currently, the construction progress of the ECRL project has exceeded 80 percent, and the project is expected to be officially opened in 2027.

A drone photo taken on Oct. 10, 2025 shows birds flying near a grand bridge of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia.

A drone photo taken on Oct. 10, 2025 shows a view outside the entrance of a tunnel of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia.

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 9, 2025 shows a view of a wetland crossed by the railway of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia.

Constructors of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project work in the rain in Pahang state, Malaysia, Oct. 9, 2025.

A bird flies near the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia, Oct. 10, 2025.

Birds are pictured near the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia, Oct. 10, 2025.

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 10, 2025 shows a view of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia.

A drone photo taken on Oct. 10, 2025 shows wild ducks swimming in the water near the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia.

Plants are pictured near the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia, Oct. 10, 2025.

The ECRL has appointed local environmental officers to conduct daily patrols and track the movements of wildlife such as Malayan tapirs and wild boars. The project has designed more than 20 animal passages to safeguard wildlife migration. Noise barriers have been set up along the project to reduce the noise pollution to the surrounding environment and residents. Security officers conduct regular patrols jointly with environmental officers, regularly educating constructors on wildlife protection.

An environmental officer, who is responsible for daily inspections of animal passages and tracking the movements of wildlife such as tapirs and wild boars, is photographed at the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia, Oct. 10, 2025. 

An environmental officer tracks the movements of wildlife at an animal passage of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia, Oct. 10, 2025.

A monkey passes an underpass of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia, Oct. 10, 2025.

A drone photo taken on Oct. 10, 2025 shows noise barriers designed to reduce the noise pollution of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia.

An environmental officer and a security officer patrol at the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia, Oct. 10, 2025.

A bird is pictured near the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia, Oct. 10, 2025.

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 10, 2025 shows a view of a grand bridge of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia.

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 10, 2025 shows a ship sailing past a grand bridge of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Pahang state, Malaysia.

Photographer: Cheng Yiheng