PUTRA HEIGHTS: The extensions for the Kelana Jaya and Ampang / Sri Petaling Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines are now officially open for use.
The extension, spanning 35.1 kilometers in total, will benefit some two million Klang Valley commuters.
The LRT line extension project, owned by Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana), paved the way for 12 new stations to be opened along the Kelana Jaya Line and 11 new stations along the Ampang / Seri Petaling Line.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said with the commencement of the Kelana Jaya and Ampang / Seri Petaling full LRT services, the government has made good its promise to deliver an integrated public transportation for the public.
Najib said the predecessor to the country's leadership had for 22 years failed to pay attention to public transportation, which led to an unintegrated system owned by various companies.
"We realise that the catalyst of growth of any country lies in the heart of the cities, and we decided to invest RM8 billion into it to provide an integrated transportation system for the public.
"We aim to increase the public's modal share from 21 per cent to 40 per cent by 2030 as this project was deemed as a high-impact economic project with projected returns.
"We have also conducted careful planning, with stringent rules and criterias imposed on the project," said Najib in his speech before officiating the ceremony today.
The newly-opened stations would be able to cater to about 300,000 more commuters daily, living in high-density and business areas such as Subang, Glenmarie, Subang Jaya, USJ as well as Bandar Kinrara, Puchong Prima, Puchong Perdana and the Puchong city centre.
Prasarana chairman Tan Sri Ismail Adam said the extended lines had been opened up gradually as the opening of the lines were too crucial to be deferred.
"It involves the comfort and convenience of millions of city folks who rely on public transportation, specifically the LRT, monorail and stage buses provided by Rapid KL," he said.
In concurrent with the 15 new station openings, stage bus operator Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd will also be providing feeder buses for commuters.