LRT to be Completed in Three Years

Sunday, 13 September 2009

LRT to be Completed in Three Years

KUALA LUMPUR: If all goes as planned, commuters can look forward to the completion of the proposed extension of both the Kelana Jaya and Ampang Line light rail transit (LRT) lines in three years.

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd’s group managing director Datuk Idrose Mohamed during a media briefing said the project was expected to cost around RM7 billion.

“It will include 13 additional stations each for the Kelana Jaya and Ampang line, including an interchange station at Putra Heights.

“It will be convenient for commuters as those from Subang Jaya, for instance, can go to the Bukit Jalil station by changing train at Putra Heights,” said Idrose.

The Kelana Jaya route, which will be extended from the Kelana Jaya station, will pass by Kelana Idaman; Carrefour Subang Jaya; Subang Ria Recreational Park; SS17; Subang Jaya Industrial Park SS14; USJ2; USJ8; USJ19 (Digital Mall); USJ21; the Hicom Industrial Estate and USJ27.

The Ampang line, meanwhile, will extend from the Seri Petaling station and passes by Taman Esplanade; Kinrara 2; Puncak Kinrara; Pusat Bandar Puchong; Taman Perindustrian Puchong; Puchong Perdana and Kinrara Taman Puchong Prima. It will end at the interchange station at Putra Heights.

“This is the approved railway scheme, but there may be changes depending on the outcome of the public display,” Idros said.

Streets had reported yesterday that details of the extension project is available for public inspection from today (sept 15) until Dec 14 at several places including the Department of Railways headquarters at Menara Dayabumi.

The public can view the plans from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. They are also being displayed at City Hall headquarters, Shah Alam City Council; Petaling Jaya City Council and Subang Jaya Municipal Council. The public can also view it online at www.dor.gov.my.

“Among the information which will be available for public inspection are aerial photographs of the areas (for the proposed project), system information and information on land owners affected by the project.

Idrose urged members of the public to take the opportunity to provide feedback on the project.

   “The conditional railway scheme was approved on Aug 25 but the final decision, including the alignment of tracks, will only be made after getting input from the public display,” he said.

   Idrose said the extension project comprises a 17km track for the Kelana Jaya line and 17.7km for the Ampang line.

“We had evaluated several track routes and chose a preferred alignment with minimal land acquisition and social impact.

“We are also putting in place multi-storey carparks at 12 of the stations to cater to the increasing number of commuters which we expect to double from the present 170,000 and 180,000 commuters daily for the Ampang and Kelana Jaya line, respectively. Each car park building will be able to accommodate between 1,200 and 1,500 cars at any one time.

   “To also cater this increase, we are also buying 35 sets of four-car trains and 13 sets of six car-trains.”