Post date: May 12, 2010 11:59:5 AM
KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Bernama) -- The government is studying proposals to extend the 43km Light Rail Transit (LRT) line between Kota Damansara and Cheras to Sungai Buloh and Kajang, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Thursday.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said the proposed extension, at the length of 3km from Kota Damansara to Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) station in Sungai Buloh, was to provide a better integration with the northern commuter train services.
The extension from Cheras to Kajang, at the length of 9km, was to integrate the line with KTMB's commuter services in the south, he said.
"The new LRT route will also have additional line from Uptown Damansara Utama to Kelana Jaya, at the length of 4km, to overcome traffic congestion on the Damansara Puchong Highway," he said in reply to Tan Kok Wai (DAP-Cheras) during question time today.
Tan wanted to know the status of the LRT project between Kota Damansara and Sungai Long, Cheras and the progress of the Ampang and Kelana Jaya line extension project to Puchong.
Ong said the proposal for new routes under the project would involve an addition of 16km, with the length of the total project extending to 59km.
On the extension of Ampang and Kelana Jaya lines, he said, the designing works for both projects were almost completed.
"The construction is expected to start from middle of this year and takes about 36 months to complete. We have also issued the offer of contract," he said.
The existing Kelana Jaya line is from Gombak to Kelana Jaya and it would be extended to Putra Heights while the Ampang line from Sentul Timur to Sri Petaling would also be extended to Putra Heights, he added.
Replying to a supplementary question from Dr Lo' Lo' Mohamad Ghazali (PAS-Titiwangsa) on the waiting time for the commuter service, Ong said the waiting time for the Kelana Jaya line during peak hours was 2.8 minutes and would be further reduced to two minutes in October.
-- BERNAMA