Friday June 5, 2009

ITT-BTS for south-bound buses only, says Nazri

By PRIYA MENON

THE new Bandar Tasik Selatan Integrated Transportation Terminal (ITT-BTS) will only be dedicated to the southern route.

Initially, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz had said that the new hub might be used for nationwide routes.

However, during a visit to the site yesterday, he agreed to maintain the hub only for the southern route due to space constraint.

“The visit has allowed us to see for ourselves if the idea is feasible. Now I feel that what I had suggested is not practical,” Nazri said.

He said the hub was created to eliminate the congestion at the Puduraya bus terminal which had been serving the public for 30 years.

Also present during the site visit was Federal Territories Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

“If the buses for other routes are based here as well, then they will have to go through the town to reach the designated highways.

“This will result in the buses getting stuck in the congestion,” Nazri added.

For now, the eastern routes will be based in Gombak while Selayang is being considered as the base for northern routes.

The ITT-BTS is being designed and built by Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd and is expected to be completed in November 2010.

Currently, 35% of works have been completed, The main terminal, which will have six floors, is sited on 20.2ha of land.

According to Maju holdings executive director Tan Sri Abdul Sahid Mohammad, the estimated cost for the project is RM570 million.

It is located beside the Bandar Tasik Selatan Ampang LRT line, ERL, and the KTM Komuter as well as the Besraya and Middle Ring Road Two highways, making it easy for commuters.

Nong Chik said the new hub will be more comfortable for the people of KL as well as visitors as the ITT-BTS was easily accessible and a link bridge to the train stations.

“The new bus terminal will have good facilities and it will change the perception of public transportation system in the country,” Abdul Sahid said.

The arrival and departure terminals will be separated, making it more systematic, while the ticketing counters will be at Level Two.

The arrival terminal will have escalators from the open-air bus holding bays as well as lifts for the disabled community.

It will also have 100 bays with 104 arrivals for a 10-minute cycle. There will be a terminal management operations system which will coordinate the bus arrival and departure systems.

“When a bus comes into the arrival bay, the close circuit cameras will pick up the number plates and the information board will display the bay number for them to dock,” said Abdul Sahid.

The disabled community will have no worries as every mechanism has been planned to accommodate their needs.

There will be special Braille lift buttons, low side lift buttons panel, and special hazard and directional tiles for the blind.

There will also be special information boards detailing the time, departure and bay number for the commuters’ benefit.

“We also have upgraded food courts as well as food and beverage outlets for hungry passengers at level 4,” Abdul Sahid added.

Nong Chik said he and Nazri would talk to Transport Ministry officials to oversee the maintenance of the terminal.

“The terminal has state-of-the-art facilities so we must ensure that it is maintained properly and does not become a shabby place like Puduraya,” Nong Chik added.

When asked for an estimation of the cost of the maintenance, Abdul Sahid said that they had not worked out the amount.

“The government will definitely allocate some money for the maintenance work as it will be expensive,” said Nazri.

When asked if the prices of goods and tickets would soar due to the fancy new terminal, Nazri gave an assurance that the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP) would control the ticket prices.

As for the Puduraya station, it will be converted into an intercity bus terminal, which will help the current traders in Puduraya.

“Those traders from Puduraya who would like to shift to ITT-BTS can do so but preference will be given to the locals in the area,” said Nong Chik.

He added that since Puduraya would still be operational, business would continue as usual and would not pose a problem to the traders.

The terminal is expected to reach maximum capacity by the year 2020.