New MRT line will add to LRT, Sentral and airports link by 2022

PUTRAJAYA: It will only take about 30 minutes to travel between Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur when the Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) MRT line is completed in 2022.

This adds to the current KLIA Express Rail Link transit service that connects Putrajaya to KL Sentral as well as KLIA and KLIA2.

In addition, the high speed rail service between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore is also expected to make a stop here, making it easier for people from the south to travel to Putrajaya for business or leisure.

The construction of the RM32bil SSP line began yesterday after the ground breaking ceremony by Prime Mi­­nister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“This is a historic moment for Malaysia’s infrastructure development and a manifestation of the Government’s commitment to bring about great transformation to public transportation, especially in the Klang Valley,” he said.

Also present at the ceremony were Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, MRT Corp Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Ham­sa.

Najib said the lack of attention on public transportation for decades had resulted in debilitating congestion not only in the Klang Valley but other cities and even on highways.

“The Government is now remedying the shortcomings of our public transport eco-system. Our commitment is to deliver a much improved system for comfort and convenience,” said Najib.

On the MRT SSP Line project, the Prime Minister said travelling to and from Putrajaya to Kuala Lumpur and other parts of the city would soon be faster, smoother and more efficient as there would also be interchanges with existing rail services including KTM Komuter, LRT, KL Monorail and the ERL.

“All these services are a glimpse of the future and modern Malaysia. We must see to it that customer satisfaction is at the highest point possible at all times,” he said.

The SSP Line is the second line after the Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) line, which began construction in 2011.

The first phase of the SBK line is expected to be in operation by December while the entire line will be fully operational by July 2017.

Liow said the launching of the project marked a new milestone in Malaysia’s urban public transport agenda.

“The continuous improvement in the public transportation network within Greater Kuala Lumpur is a testament to the Government’s People First, Performance Now slogan.

“This has long been a key focus for the Transport Ministry as well as the Government,” said Liow in a statement.

As the population in Greater Kuala Lumpur grows, the increased capacity and connectivity offered by MRT2 and other lines will encourage modal transfers from private vehicles, thus reducing congestion and improving quality of life, Liow said.

He congratulated the project’s owner MRT Corp for the successful launch, adding that the Government would whole-heartedly support efforts which will transform Malaysia into a world-class economy.