S’gor govt cancels controversial Kidex highway project

SHAH ALAM: Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali said the Selangor government has decided to cancel the Damansara-Kinrara Highway (Kidex) project.

This followed the Kidex concessionaire’s failure to comply with three conditions set by the February 14 deadline, he said in a media statement yesterday.

The conditions include an independent Traffic Impact Assessment, Social Impact Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment to prove it is beneficial to residents.

Azmin said the concessionaire also failed to disclose the toll rates, the toll rate increase, estimated toll to be collected and the return on investment.

They also did not reveal the full concession agreement to comply with the Pakatan Rakyat government’s policy that emphasise on transparency and accountability.

“The conditions were made following public feedback and were communicated to the Kidex concessionaire but they failed to comply.

Azmin said the Selangor government wanted the construction of highways to bring benefits to residents in the areas affected by construction.

A similar approach will apply to all applications for the proposed construction of highways i n Selangor.

The RM2.2 billion Kidex Highway was to start at the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) near Damansara and end at Bukit Jalil Highway near Kinrara.

It was to meet the needs of residents in north-south Klang Valley and reduce traffic congestion on the Damansara Puchong Highway (LDP) by up to 30 per cent.

Kidex met with fierce resistance from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community groups who claimed the project will destroy the environment and an unwise solution to traffic woes in the area. – Bernama