PUTRAJAYA, June 16 – The government will continue to strengthen and improvise the country’s public transportation system in line with its National Transportation Policy, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.
An efficient and reliable transportation system is key in the continued economic development of the country and remains an important aspiration as the country aims for developed status, benefitting the people, he said in his speech at the official opening of the MRT Putrajaya Line Phase One here today.
The line developed in two phases is also expected to transport 104,000 people daily once fully completed and this is expected to help reduce traffic congestion on the roads.
Apart making travels more easier for people across various areas, the government is also confident of more development in places along this new route such as in Jinjang, Sungai Buloh, Kepong and Bandar Sri Damansara as well as in places where there has been little development, he said.
At the event today, the prime minister also announced a month (effective today, June 16) of free travel for those using the services of RapidKL namely the MRT, LRT, BRT, as well as KTM’s Komuter in Klang Valley and the Rapid bus services.
The Putrajaya Line MRT, developed in two phases, when fully completed is expected to provide services to approximately two million people in the corridor starting from the Kwasa Damansara area to Putrajaya, the government’s administrative center.
The Phase One which took off today, involves the journey from Kwasa Damansara to Kampung Batu while the Phase Two Line which is now almost complete, involves the route from Kampung Batu to Putrajaya.
The Phase Two route will pass through strategic areas including Kuala Lumpur City Center with underground stations such as Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Ampang Park, Persiaran KLCC and Tun Razak Exchange (TRX).
The 57.7 -kilometer Putrajaya Line MRT has 36 stations consisting of 27 elevated stations and nine underground stations and there are plans to add four more new stations. The line has been built at a total cost of RM30.53 billion.
–WE