LRT3 aims to spur development at Johan Setia, Klang

KUALA LUMPUR (May 12): The proposed alignment of the Light Rail Transit Line 3 (LRT3) will terminate at Johan Setia in Klang, which is the proposed location for the last station that will be the main depot for the railway scheme, said group managing director of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd Azmi Abdul Aziz (pictured) today at a media conference announcing the public inspection for the LRT3 railway scheme.

The proposed 36km LRT3 aims to connect Bandar Utama to Klang.

Azmi expressed hope that the LRT3 will open up opportunities for development in Johan Setia since it is a relatively new area. He added that the group’s strategy is two pronged – to spur development, and to reduce congestion in more mature areas.

He said that while the project delivery partners (PDPs) are to manage the LRT3 project, the company “will be business friendly and work together with other developers” for other developments in Johan Setia.

As the collection of PDP offer documents is still open, Azmi declined to confirm who had been shortlisted as bidders, but revealed that seven parties have collected the offer documents. The PDP will close in the first week of June and, with one month to evaluate the bidders, successful ones will be identified by July, he said.

In terms of land acquisition, Azmi said only corridors of the alignment have been identified while specific locations for the route will only be identified after the final alignment has been approved.

The company plans to submit the final approval for the railway scheme after the required three-month public display.

According to Azmi, the RM9 billion allocated budget for LRT3 is not inclusive of land acquisition cost; the full cost will be known after the final approval of the alignment.

“The process is, to clear up the public display first, get the final approval, then we can decide. Without the principal approval we cannot finalise,” he said.

The public inspection sessions are being held over three months starting May 15 until Aug 14 at seven locations – Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam, Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya, Majlis Perbandaran Klang, Kelana Jaya LRT station, Masjid Jamek LRT station and Pasar Seni LRT station.

The proposed 36km alignment of LRT3 has 25 stations along its route, and will be integrated with existing and future public transport networks at four stations – One Utama (with MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line), Station 3 (with Kelana Jaya Line), SIRIM (with BRT Kuala Lumpur-Klang) and Klang Town (with KTM Komuter).

Included in the proposed alignment is a 2km underground stretch somewhere in Shah Alam.

Construction is targeted to commence in 2016 upon approval from the authorities and is expected to be completed by 2020. The LRT3 is expected to run by 2025.

“We encourage the public to take this opportunity during the three-month period to provide their constructive feedback on LRT3 and discover more about the project as well as the benefits it will bring, not only to the nearby residents but also those from other localities. Your input is important for us to analyse and submit to SPAD for its evaluation and consideration,” Azmi said.