Good response to public inspection on MRT project

KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): The response to the public inspection (PI) of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line (SSP Line), which began on Friday, has been good with members of the public giving a variety of feedback on the project.

As at 3pm on Friday, around 100 people had given their input at the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) booth at Platinum Sentral, KL Sentral, and at the Sepang Municipal Council headquarters in Cyberjaya.

“These are only from visitors who gave their feedback. There were also those who visited the booths but said they will give their feedback later after learning more about the alignment of the project,” said Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) director of strategic communications and public relations Mahmood Abdul Razak in a statement.

The two booths were the first to be opened for the public inspection of the SSP Line, a requirement under Section 84 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010.

Under the Act, MRT Corp is required to deposit plans, sections and a book of reference related to the SSP Line with SPAD. SPAD then displays these documents for members of the public to inspect.

Besides SPAD and the Sepang Municipal Council, booths will also be set up at 23 other locations, including other local councils, shopping malls, community halls and a hospital, till Aug 17.

At these booths, members of the public can view boards and materials containing information about the SPP Line. They include satellite images of planned alignment of the 52.2km line and locations of the 36 stations. Other project information include typical station features and layout, land acquisition plans, railway transit technical data and project construction details.

“MRT Corp hopes the PI will provide a platform for the public to provide feedback on the proposed alignment. The PI displays will educate the public about the project and it also serves as an avenue for the public to provide feedback on the proposed alignment for SSP Line,” Mahmood said.

MRT Corp is also enabling access to the displays via their website throughout the public inspection period.

Former Petaling Jaya councillor Derek Fernandez, however, had urged MRT Corp to consult the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) on the proposed MRT Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) line.

“While it is admirable that real attempts are being made to reduce traffic congestion by upgrading mass public transport systems through the MRT Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya lines, it is important that MRT Corp get proper expertise in planning and development control to avoid the same pitfalls that plagued both the Kidex and Dash highways,” he had said on Friday, referring to the vociferous objections against the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway and the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway.

“While MRT Corp is carrying out publicity under Section 84 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010, they should also be aware of other laws affecting this proposed project, which include the Town and Country Planning Act 1976.

“An amendment to the PJ local plan will be required for this project to be legal and they need to present their proposal to the MBPJ to get approval for a public exposure of an intention to amend the local plan under Section 12A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976,” he had said.

Fernandez had said that to save time, MRT Corp should coordinate their exhibition with the exposure under Section 12A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, which is also a statutory process.

The proposed SSP Line is the second of the three intended MRT lines that will complete the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) Project.

The planned interconnectivity with existing KTM Komuter LRT, KL Monorail and ERL Transit lines, as well as the Sungai Buloh Kajang Line, will enable residents of the region to have greater urban rail mobility than ever before.

The SSP Line will also integrate with future rail lines such as High Speed Rail, Putrajaya Monorail and MRT Line 3.