Large tracts of forest reserves in Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor will have to make way for the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL).

According to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, the area involved totals 357ha, which is approximately five times the size of the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX).

The affected area is home to leopards, elephants, sun bears, tapirs, gaur, mousedeer and wild boars, according to the ministry.

"Among the effects of the ECRL project on the affected area are habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, human-animal conflict, poaching, obstacles to aminal migration and roadkills," the ministry said in a parliamentary written reply to Bagan Serai MP Noor Azmi Ghazali.

In view of this, the ECRL will need to provide wildlife crossings, eight tunnels (39.3km in total length), at least four viaducts or culverts, and about 600km in fencing or walls to prevent track encroachment by wildlife.

The environmental impact assessment report will also need to include a wildlife mitigation plan.

"The mitigation plan must include programmes to rescue trapped wildlife, human-animal conflict management, translocation of wildlife, enforcement plans, public awareness plans and habitat enrichment plans," said the ministry.

The ECRL is a nearly 700km rail project that will link Port Klang in Selangor to Pengkalan Kubor in Kelantan. This project will involve a single-track with room for expansion to a double-track design.

Critics have pointed out that ECRL will cost far more than the RM55 billion that was being budgeted by Putrajaya. Critics are also claiming that the project is not viable.