Metro

Monday November 9, 2009

Traffic plan questioned

By BAVANI M


THREE Pakatan Rakyat MP’s of Kuala Lumpur are questioning some of the discrepancies in the RM110mil traffic dispersal plan proposed for Brickfields.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Bukit Bintang MP Fung Kui Lun and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok have been asked by some residents to help address certain issues up in Parliament regarding the traffic dispersal plan. The MP’s help were sought because their constituencies border areas that will be affected by the proposed plan.

Daily scene: The traffic congestion in Jalan Tun Sambanthan.

“The plan is only serving the needs of MRCB which is KL Sentral. Where are the traffic assessment reports and analysis done for the project?’’ asked Nurul Izzah.

“It would be pointless for us to put in our objections without having any data on the traffic volume,’’ she said.

Nurul Izzah is also questioning why MRCB was awarded the contract for the project instead of it being put through an open tender.

“RM110mil is a lot of money and it is the taxpayers’ money. There is no point in spending so much money for a system that does not work,’’ added Fung.

The MPs also asked why they were not consulted by the DBKL and that they only found out about the project from residents. “We will bring this matter up in Parliament,’’ Nurul Izzah said.

Meanwhile, the one-month deadline for residents and the business community of Bangsar and Brickfields to submit their feedback and suggestions on the traffic plan ends today.

On Oct 9, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail gave the residents a month to put their views in and he had asked MRCB to make available details on the social impact and traffic assessment reports and analysis done on the project to residents.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with the Brickfields business community last week, Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan had requested the DBKL to have another meeting with residents to address the security and safety concerns they might have on the project.

The proposed traffic solution under the RM110mil stimulus package, include Package 1: construction of flyover at Jalan Travers/Jalan Bangsar Intersection, Package 2: construction of flyover from KL Sentral to Jalan Damansara & the Mahameru Highway, Package 3: upgrading of Jalan Tun Sambanthan and its vicinity, Package 4: construction of pedestrian bridges & linkages, Package 5: upgrade and repair roads in KL Sentral and Package 6: construction of elevated road from Jalan Bangsar to Jalan Maarof.

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