Proposed MRT line to bypass Kajang town (change to earlier proposal)

The new proposal as reported by The Star below may be a better alternative. If I have the time, I should go and see the proposal for myself at the MPK building. I suppose this is not the end of the issue as yet.

Until the next time, cheers.

The Star, Wednesday October 5, 2011

Proposed MRT line to bypass Kajang town

THE new proposed route for the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Sungai Buloh-Kajang line will avoid the Kajang town and run along Sungai Langat instead.

There will be an exhibition at Menara Kajang on the changes to the proposed routes.

The exhibition, which began on Oct 3, will be held for three months.

All who signed in the feedback book have agreed to the proposed line.

The previous proposal saw the MRT line cutting through Kajang town affecting 39 shop owners.

Kajang assemblyman Lee Kim Sin said some of the businesses in Kajang town had been passed down from one generation to another and as such the heritage of the town and old streets would be destroyed.

“Furthermore, construction of the line in Kajang town will cause congestion,” Lee said.

Hence, some of them came up with an alternative route that runs along the Sungai Langat river bank.

Chin Kon Teng, who has been affected by the previous proposed route, was happy that his shop would be spared.

“There will be less land acquisition, which in turn will lower the MRT construction cost,” he said.

Lee said this would be a win-win situation for Kajang residents and Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (Prasarana), the owner of the project.

“By avoiding Kajang town, there will be less land acquisition and the KTM land reserve will be used for the line.

“If the current proposed route is approved, it will spur the economy as well as increase property value,” he said.

The MRT line will have a ripple effect in Kajang, spurring the construction of a new town hall and sports complex, and a commercial centre near the Kajang station.

“The Kajang station will be a one-stop transportation centre and the council will work together with Prasarana to provide shuttle bus services,” he said.

MMC-Gamuda JV Sdn Bhd was appointed as the Project Delivery Partner to manage the project and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) was appointed to supervise the project.

The Sungai Buloh-Kajang line spans 51km with 35 stations.

The proposed line connects Sungai Buloh to Kajang, passing by Taman Suntex, Taman Cuepacs, Taman Koperasi, Balakong, Saujana Impian and Bandar Tun Hussein Onn.

To know more about the new proposed routes for the Sungai Buloh-Kajang line and give feedback, you can go to Kajang Municipal Council building in Jalan Cempaka Putih, off Jalan Semenyih, Kajang.