JOHOR BARU: The state government is seriously considering reopening the pedestrian shortcut to the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex here, says executive councillor Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh.
The state works, transportation, and infrastructure committee chairman said the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) and the Johor Public Transport Corporation (PAJ) have been tasked with coming out with a concept design that would allow the shortcut to be reopened.
“MBJB and the PAJ will need a few weeks or at least one month to come out with the concept design.
“Once we have the concept design, we will also need to look into the safety aspects to see whether it is safe for pedestrians to use the shortcut.
“We will then need to bring the idea to the Immigration Department and the Home Ministry so that they can give their say on the matter. Only then can we finalise the design,” he told The Star after visiting the shortcut area.
Mohamad Fazli said that among the ideas that would be taken into consideration is building a pedestrian bridge that would allow commuters to get to the CIQ directly.
“Previously, we also considered providing shuttle buses. However, we later found that the idea was not that viable as it would take a very long time for the buses to make a round to pick up and drop off pedestrians to and fro due to heavy congestion.
“We may still revisit the idea, but that will be the last option,” he said, adding that he also welcomes the public, especially those who used the shortcut before it was closed, to give their suggestions at his Facebook page at mfazli86.
Mohamad Fazli said he hopes the reopening of the shortcut would help reduce congestion in Johor Baru, especially in the town area.
“We will seriously consider this as it will allow people to walk to the CIQ and reduce congestion in town, which is getting worse.
“PAJ will also conduct a survey to find out whether many people will use this shortcut once we reopen it,” he said.
The Star previously highlighted that hundreds of pedestrians, including pregnant women and senior citizens, had asked for the shortcut to be reopened.
The shortcut, which was near Hako Hotel along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam here, made it easier for pedestrians to walk into the CIQ complex.
Currently, they have to walk about 1.5km around the building to enter the immigration clearance area.
According to a CIQ official, pedestrians were previously allowed access into the building, located near the bus entrance, via the shortcut for many years until the Home Ministry stopped it during the Covid-19 pandemic.
