Govt eyes more KTM commuters with 20% fare discount

PUTRAJAYA: Authorities are targeting for 120,000 passengers to use the KTM Komuter daily, an increase of 20%, when a 20% discount for its fares take effect on April 1.

This initiative, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke, is aimed at easing the people’s burden in tackling cost of living.

The discount will result in lesser revenue for KTM by about RM43mil, said Loke, adding the difference would be borne by the Railway Asset Corporation.

“The discount was approved by the Cabinet. This is another initiative by the government to help the people in dealing with transportation cost.

“We hope the discount will encourage the public to use public transport like the KTM Komuter service,” he said after chairing the ministry’s post Cabinet meeting yesterday.

The government had earlier launched the My100 unlimited travel pass within Klang Valley.

Current KTM users are about 94,000 daily.

The discount will be available to those taking the Padang RengasButterworth, Butterworth-Padang Besar, Port Klang-Tanjung Malim, Seremban-Batu Caves and Sungai Gadut-Tampin.

Loke said the commuters would be able to enjoy the discount for a year. It will be reviewed after that.

On complaints by Semenyih vot- ers about the lack of public transport, the minister said there was a need to boost first and last mile connectivity.

“The plan is to boost frequency of feeder buses in housing areas close to MRT stations.

“This is not an election pledge for Semenyih but is something that we have been looking into,” he said.