Prasarana given approval to build LRT lines

Work on the LRT extension from the Kelana Jaya line to USJ 20 in Subang Jaya and the Ampang line from Sri Petaling to Taman Puchong Prima will start soon.
Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana) has been given the approval for both lines from the Department of Railways.
There will be 13 stations for each of the two lines.
Prasarana group managing director Datuk Idrose Mohamed said they had their public hearing for three months beginning Sept 15 last year.
“The proposed lines were displayed at various locations of the local authorities,” Idrose told reporters at his office in Bangsar yesterday.
“We received a lot of feedback from the public and stakeholders while meetings were also held with residents on their objections raised.
“Both the federal and state governments ordered us to study the objections raised and how we can overcome the issues. We gave solutions and approval was granted,” he said.
On the remaining “unapproved” sections, Idrose said discussions were being held with the state and federal governments and hoped to obtain approval soon after all issues and residents’ concerns were sorted out.
For the Kelana Jaya line, the first phase of construction work covering 9.2km will be from the Kelana Jaya station to USJ near the Kesas highway.
For the Ampang line, the first phase is from the Sri Petaling station to Kinrara 3 covering 7.4km.
Work to relocate telecommunication cables, TNB underground cables and high voltage transmission lines, water mains, sewerage and gas pipes is expected to start in mid-July.
Idrose said work on both the lines would start simultaneously and was expected to be completed in three years.
He said the exact time frame would be clearer once approval for the remaining sections was obtained and tender called in September.
He added that there would be 800 to 1,500 parking bays depending on the location of the stations and the ridership.
Some stations are being integrated and some with just drop-off bays without the park-and-ride facility.

source: TheStar 25 June 2010