Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman to be reserved for pedestrians, buses from March 15

PUTRAJAYA (Feb 13): The route along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Jalan TAR) in Kuala Lumpur will be closed to all vehicles except buses beginning March 15, Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abd Samad said.

The closure of the one kilometre stretch from Jalan Esfahan to Jalan Melayu was to allow the public and mainly shoppers to conveniently carry out their business as they would not have to deal with the constant traffic in the area, he said.

"Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) conducted an online survey on the closure of the road and majority of respondents agreed with the proposal.

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"We intend to make the route starting from Sogo (shopping complex) to Wisma Bandar a vehicle-free road or pedestrian mall where visitors can walk about shopping,” he told a news conference after a Luncheon Talk here yesterday in conjunction with Federal Territory Day. Also present was Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan.

He said that if the situation was good after the road closure, DBKL was ready to allow bazaar traders who had applied for business licences to operate in the area, during the Ramadan period 

He said the entire stretch could accommodate up to 200 lots which could also be used for other festive periods.

Khalid said the move would also safeguard the interests of business owners whose shops at the old site of the Ramadan bazaar were adversely affected.