JB-Singapore RTS Link to achieve 70% progress by December 2023 — exco

ISKANDAR PUTERI (June 22): The Johor government is targeting for the progress status of the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link to reach 70% by December next year.

State Works, Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said works on the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine Complex are expected to reach 50% in the same period.

“As of May 30, the project has achieved 17% [completion]. The RTS Link project is scheduled to be fully completed by December 2026 and will begin operation on Jan 1, 2027,” he said during the Second Meeting of the First Session of the 15th Johor State Legislative Assembly at the Sultan Ismail Building here on Wednesday (June 22).

He was replying to a question from Chen Kah Eng (Pakatan Harapan-Stulang) on the development status of RTS construction in the state.

Mohamad Fazli said the state government is now in the planning stage of establishing a Public Transport Integration Committee in Johor Baru to plan the movement of passengers using the RTS.

“Among the systems that will be integrated are the bus system, namely the Bus Muafakat Johor service and commercial buses, the Iskandar Rapid Transit system, the Gemas-Johor Baru Electric Double Track Project and the proposed Johor Baru Light Rail Transit (LRT) development.

“The Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) is also planning to develop a centralised car park at Plaza Seni and the Danga City Mall,” he said. 

 The RTS line is a 4km cross-border railway project connecting the terminal in Singapore at the Woodlands North station to the Malaysian terminal in Bukit Chagar, Johor Baru.

Once completed, the RTS network will be able to carry 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction. 

Meanwhile, when met outside the state assembly sitting, Mohamad Fazli said the state government had agreed to conduct a feasibility study of LRT services in the city.

“The LRT services will involve the governance of local authorities such as MBJB, the Iskandar Puteri City Council, Pasir Gudang City Council and Kulai Municipal Council," he said.