KUALA LUMPUR: The government, through Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) has provided 10 railway land locations in six states with significant potential for development for various projects, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Loke said that the parcels of land totaling 369.45 acres (149.51 hectares) are spread over Penang, Johor, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perlis, and Kelantan.
Five of these land parcels have train access and might be developed using the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) concept, he said.
"These RAC land needs to be developed with value added so that the corporation can enjoy maximum returns, which can then be used for the development of the national railway sector.
"'I welcome the big developers to pay attention to this opportunity because it is our new approach to making the transport sector a catalyst for the country's economic development," Loke said at the opening ceremony of the RAC Property Showcase 2023 yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Segambut 2 Railway Station, near United Point Residence, would be a driver for growth in the area, transforming Segambut into a high-density district, according to a joint statement made by RAC and IDP Industrial Growth Sdn Bhd.
The RAC and IDP also believe that the station's development, which is scheduled to be completed in November 2025, will reduce traffic congestion and boost property ownership among individuals who want to live or work near the city centre.
The new railway station project is being developed by IDP, while the land for the project is provided by RAC, a government corporation.
The two have signed a development agreement for the construction of the station.
RAC was represented by its chief executive officer, Azhar Ahmad, while IDP Industrial was represented by its director, Kong Pak Lim.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Loke, Youth and Sports Minister and Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, and Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah.
According to RAC and IDP, a total of 330,600 people live within a four-kilometre (km) radius of United Point Residence.
They said the railway station's construction will provide travellers with a welcoming and comfortable environment.
This is due to the fact that 400 passengers are planned to be able to utilise the railway station at the same time, as opposed to the existing Segambut Railway Station, which is a stop with relatively limited facilities.
Meanwhile, Loke said that with the signing of the agreement, the government will receive a "return in kind" in the form of a new railway station building worth RM34.1 million, as well as RM3.5 million as a "one-off" to cover maintenance and other related expenditures.
"After more than five years of work, the construction of this train station has been finalised. We hope that it will be able to increase the number of passengers in addition to reducing traffic congestion in Segambut," he said.