Ampang, Kelana Jaya line LRT extension project to begin operations in 2016

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced yesterday that the 18.1-kms Ampang Light Rail Transit (LRT) line project will begin operations in March 2016.

Meanwhile, the Kelana JayaPutra Heights line project of 17.4 km will be fully operational by the middle of next year.

He said both the extension projects would cost RM10 billion.

"An efficient public transportation system is being planned for the comfort of people in urban areas.

"This is all being implemented through a big allocation because we want to make life easier for urban folks," he said when tabling the 2016 Budget at Dewan Rakyat yesterday. The Prime Minister also announced that the Sungai Buloh to Semantan Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line would begin operations in December 2016.

Meanwhile, phase two of the project covering the Semantan to Kajang line is due for completion by the middle of 2017.

"This project (MRT Sungai BulohSemantan-Kajang), with a distance of 51 km will be implemented at a cost of RM32 billion," he said.

Najib also said the government had launched various initiatives to boost the public transport network.

This included the MRT II Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) project over 52 km, which will benefit two million people, built at a cost of RM28 billion.

Construction works for the project is due to begin in the second quarter of 2016, and it is due for completion by 2022.

Meanwhile, the LRT3 project from Bandar Utama, Damansara to Johan Setia, Klang, over a distance of 36 km, is due to be fully operational by 2020.

"This project, which will benefit two million people at a cost of RM10 billion, will begin in 2016," he said.

On public bus transportation, the Prime Minister announced that the Rapid Transit Bus project or BRT KL-Klang would be implemented at a cost of more than RM1.5 billion and the BRT Kota Kinabalu at a cost of almost RM1 billion.

In addition, the Prime Minister also announced that the government would continue talks with Singapore on the 'High Speed Rail' project. - Bernama