RM570mil transport hub may start operations by July, says Ong

By YENG AI CHUN

KUALA LUMPUR: The Southern Integrated Transportation Terminal in Bandar Tasik Selatan could be ready by July, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

He said the developer had hinted of an early completion date for the project although it was originally scheduled to be completed in November.

“The terminal will cater to all types of transportation. We will have the bus services, taxi and rail services including the light rail transit, Keretapi Tanah Melayu’s commuter train service and Express Rail Link under one roof.

Site inspection: Ong (right) checking on the terminal’s progress at Bandar Tasik Selatan yesterday.

“This terminal is also connected to the Sungai Besi Highway, Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Highway, and the Middle Ring Road II,” he told newsmen after visiting the project site in Bandar Tasik Selatan here yesterday.

The RM570mil terminal is located on 19.8ha site adjacent to the Tasik Selatan’s LRT station and the Tasik Selatan KTM Komuter station. It has the capacity of handling about 40,000 passengers a day.

It will also manage all express buses serving the southern part of peninsular Malaysia. Ong said the terminal would help divert express buses from the city and ease traffic congestion in the process.

“The southern sector receives nearly 550 departures and arrivals a day. There are more than 170 movements in an hour during peak hours,” he said.

Ong said the comfort level for passengers would be similar to an airport terminal.

“There is 2.8 sq m per person in the terminal. In an airport, there is 2.3 sq m per person,” he explained.

Ong added he was optimistic the terminal and other measures such as the streamlining of bus stops, increasing the number of carriages for the LRTs as well as the impending introduction of new rail services, would increase the use of public transport in the city from 16% to 25% by 2012.

Asked if the terminal would eventually take over the south-bound express buses in Puduraya, Ong replied that it would be up to the Federal Territories Minister to redesignate the movement of buses.

However, he said all south-bound public transport would be centred at the new terminal. The terminal will be equipped with ICT facilities and be disabled-friendly. It will also have 16 bus platforms for city routes, 100 bus parking bays, 150 taxi bays and 1,000 public parking bays.