Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT will spur economic growth: Academician

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK Line) Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) service which will be fully operational Monday, will boost economic activity along the 51km line, said Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's Centre for Innovative Planning and Development (CIPD) director, Prof Dr Amran Hamzah.
He said that this was due to the current trends that demanded diversity of facilities in areas with ​​efficient public transport.
"Good transport networks attract property players to develop various projects including shopping centres, housing and offices.
"This is because, based on the Light Rail Transit (LRT) development experience, areas with good transportation will be the focus of the public to stay or work in because of the advantages in terms of avoiding congestion.
He said the existence of the MRT route would also be able to attract larger markets, thereby boosting further economic activity and opening up more job opportunities.
In addition, new settlements will spring up rapidly as long as there is room for development activities to take place along the SBK route.
In fact, Prof Amran said, this was coupled with the fact that the SBK route is integrated with the commuter train network, Light Rail Transit (LRT), and Monorail systems to attract those in the suburbs to commute to the city centre, as well as to churn out night and informal activities in certain areas.
He said that areas that are expected to experience the most significant developments are Sungai Buloh, Cheras, Taman Mutiara, and Bandar Tun Hussein Onn which will be developed with new shopping malls, offices, and residential units, due to the population density factor and availability of spaces where development can be maximised.
The opening of the second phase, 30km Semantan-Kajang route, will complete the 51km SBK Line through high-population areas such as Kajang and Cheras and popular tourist destinations such as the National Museum and Central Market.
The SBK route will connect 19 schools, 22 places of worship, eight healthcare facilities, besides 44 shopping malls.
Meanwhile, property developer Datuk Seri Lim Keng Cheng admitted that the MRT project had given his company the opportunity to develop a shopping centre in Cheras.
He said the shopping centre, which is scheduled to be completed next year, will be another attraction to the residents of Cheras and its surrounding areas. — Bernama