LETTERS: The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) land reserve is valuable and commercially viable and should be put to profitable use.
Now that MRT1 (Sungai Buloh- Kajang) and MRT2 (Sungai Buloh-Putrajaya) are fully operational, it is time to consider the MRT land reserve below the tracks and guideways.
In many places, the tracks pass through heavily developed areas where the land reserve can be used for various purposes, such as parking or small businesses.
Unlike the tracks that pass through urban and congested places, the tracks in some areas are free from obstruction and are convenient for use.
MRT Corp should conduct a survey of the areas where the land reserve can be used commercially.
The land reserve on both lines is lengthy (103 km) and large if you consider the total cumulative area.
The firm should look into sub-tenanting to offset part of MRT's annual overhead expenses.
Quite a lot of reserve areas are used for dumping trash and construction debris, making them an eyesore.
The initial landscaping, with flowering plants and trees, has given way to brush and undergrowth due to lack of care and maintenance.
MRT has a duty to keep land reserve clean. If it does not, it will run foul of municipal by-laws and the local authorities may impose a fine.
Signboards warning against dumping of rubbish should be considered. Fencing off the area will incur heavy expenses.
Sub-letting land reserve will ensure the area is kept clean and cared for.
One of the largest land reserve under the MRT tracks that can be used immediately is the area between the Sungai Buloh MRT Depot and Jalan Subang, facing Kota Damansara.
This stretch was part of the Rubber Research Institute, which has been re-named Kwasa Damansara.
The horticultural nursery operators in Green Lane, Jalan Subang, have been eyeing this land reserve since they were asked to relocate due to a road widening project.
This area is ideal for nurseries and nursery operators are willing to pay a reasonable rental to use it.
I understand that there is a renewed effort, with the support of people's representatives, by nursery operators to seek MRT Corp's permission to lease the land.
The nurseries will beautify and add greenery to the reserve area and it is hoped MRT will consider to this proposal.
Using MRT land reserve is much safer than using land near Tenaga Nasional Berhad power lines, railways or water pipelines.
One can see large car parks under TNB transmission transmission land reserve in parts of the Klang Valley.
There have been reports in the media about vehicle owners arguing over limited parking space near MRT stations.
The MRT will not be profitable for many years due to insufficient ridership, therefore, MRT Corp should use the land reserve wisely.
The MRT land reserve is a gold mine as some tracks run through highly urbanised areas where land costs are high.
V. THOMAS
Sungai Buloh, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times