Amirudin (fourth from right) giving away goodie bags to motorists at the opening ceremony of the new access road for Taman Raintree residents.
AFTER years of putting up with a narrow, pothole-ridden back lane as an alternative route, residents in Taman Raintree, Batu Caves, Selangor, now have a new, two-lane road.
Now known as Jalan Raintree Utama, residents said its construction, which is off Jalan Station, began six months ago.
Previously, the only main exit and entry point into the neighbourhood was via Jalan Station.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari launched the road in a ceremony on Saturday.
Putri Laksamana Apartment joint management body (JMB) president Ragunathan Appalanaidu, 56, said the event was especially meaningful as residents had been asking for a new road for the past 10 years.
He said the new road provided relief when traffic was at its peak, especially during festivals like Thaipusam.
“The residents realise how useful the road is as a shortcut during emergencies as it takes only five minutes to reach Kampung Laksamana,” he said.
Taman Raintree Residents Association president Raimy Rahim said although the road was less than a kilometre, the connection to Kampung Laksamana allowed motorists easy access to Jalan Kuching, Jalan Gombak, Jalan Selayang and the Sungai Tua Eco Forest Park.
Barely a kilometre away from the famous Batu Caves temples, the opening of the new road was seen as timely by residents who had been bracing for traffic congestion in the days leading up to Thaipusam.
Selayang Baru resident Datuk Jasbeer Singh, 62, who was there at the event with Gurdwara Sahib Selayang Baru president Inderjit Singh said in the past, traversing the narrow road also came with the risk of being stuck halfway because of oncoming traffic as well as running into touts who would make use of the secluded location for illegal dumping.
“Now that the area has been cleared and there is better access to athe residential area, we also hope to see improvement in terms of the squatter situation as well as social issues such as gangsterism.
“This new connection will allow social services easier access to those in need of help,” said Jasbeer.
Amirudin, who is also Gombak MP, said he had often received complaints on the alternative route in the past.
Lauding the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) for the completion of this road, Amirudin said the delay in construction occurred when developers had either refused or delayed payments for the road construction.
“We were only able to collect around RM700,000.
“The total cost for the road construction was RM1.96mil.
“The allocation was obtained from development charges paid by the developers, which will then be reutilised to build other facilities for the community,” he said.
MPS president Datuk Mohd Yazid Sairi said the newly built access route connected Taman Raintree to Jalan Laksamana 2, Kampung Laksamana.
Camelia Maju Resources was given the contract for the project.
Earlier, Amirudin and Mohd Yazid launched the groundbreaking ceremony for a senior citizens’ community and recreational activity centre (PAWE Selayang) along the newly built access route.
Rosnizal Baharun Architect will act as project consultant for the RM2.5mil building measuring 397.97 sq m until it receives its certificate of completion and compliance.
MPS has awarded the construction project to RHM Usahawan Berjaya.
The PAWE Selayang project is expected to be completed within nine months.
The centre, which will have a study room, hall, surau, mini library, toilets, pantry, parking lot and a garden, was the result of a survey done by MPS from November to December 2022 on what residents were looking for in terms of services, facilities and environment.
