Food trucks, indiscriminate parking blamed for jams at Setapak road
MOTORISTS using Jalan Danau Saujana, Setapak, in Kuala Lumpur are frustrated by congestion along the 600m stretch.
They claim that it takes them between 30 and 45 minutes to pass through the road during peak hours, due to haphazard parking and the presence of food trucks.
The three-lane road connects Jalan Langkawi and Jalan Genting Kelang.
Residents of PV16 Platinum Lake Condominium and Crystal Ville commercial centre stakeholders complained that the situation was worse between 7am and 10am, noon to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm, as the entrance to their place is blocked by traffic.
Speaking on behalf of all those affected by this situation was PV16 Management Corporation chairman Awtar Singh.
He suggested that the food trucks be relocated.
“Due to the development of many high-rise residential buildings in the surrounding area, the residential road now functions more like a main road,” he said.
Awtar said there was also a need for enforcement to tackle indiscriminate parking.
“For those heading to Crystal Ville, there is ample space at the paid underground parking lot under the commercial centre but some of the condominium residents park by the roadside.”
When Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers from several departments visited the site with DBKL advisory board member Andre Lai to assess the situation, they found one food truck with many vehicles parked along both sides of Jalan Danau Saujana.
Lai said DBKL acknowledged the public’s concern and proposed enforcement to address illegal parking along the road as a temporary measure.
“DBKL suggested putting a ‘no parking sign’ and drawing yellow lines to warn motorists not to park along the road.
“Ten food trucks are licensed to operate along that road,” added Lai.
He said the licences had been issued when the road was not busy, but DBKL now needed to relocate them.
Lai said without the food trucks and indiscriminate parking, congestion wouldn’t be an issue.
