THE concentration of Deepavali bazaar traders at a new site in Brickfields is expected to bring heavier traffic to the Jalan Tun Sambanthan area in Kuala Lumpur, but motorists have been urged to be patient during the month-long bazaar, which starts tomorrow (Oct 9).
A 120-metre stretch of Jalan Tun Sambanthan 1, which links Jalan Tun Sambanthan and Lengkok Tun Sambanthan, has been closed for the bazaar from today.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said some congestion was unavoidable during festive celebrations, particularly as motorists adjusted to the road closure and location of stalls.
“Wherever we locate it, whether on the main road or here, there will be congestion, but what we want to minimise is severe congestion,” she said during a visit to the site at the Brickfields Sports and Recreation Complex today.
Yeoh said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officers would monitor vehicle movements daily to keep traffic flowing.
She urged the public to be patient during the 30-day bazaar.
“If we say there should be no traffic during a festive celebration, that would also mean the bazaar has failed," she said.
Yeoh acknowledged there could be initial logistical and teething problems, but expressed confidence DBKL could resolve them.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud said Rela personnel would also help manage traffic, while an alternative route behind the bazaar site would remain accessible.
DBKL has set up a temporary office at the site to handle ground operations.
Fadlun said this was the first time DBKL had centralised its Brickfields Deepavali bazaar activities at one location.
A total of 131 traders are operating at the new site, with another 20 at Jalan Bunus.
He said all bazaar traders registered with DBKL had been placed at the centralised site instead of operating along the road, however existing businesses could still carry out promotional activities in front of their premises.
The bazaar will operate for a month, compared with 21 days previously.
Fadlun said the new location was chosen because it could accommodate more traders while retaining an alternative route for vehicles.
He said large crowds were expected on weekends.
Four associations were involved in the allocation of bazaar lots, which he said had been completed.
Yeoh said traders were being offered lots at RM400, the same rate applied to Ramadan bazaars.
Fadlun also said RM1.5mil had been spent on this year’s Deepavali celebrations.
He added that DBKL was also working with Kuala Lumpur Tourism Association, with programmes planned on the main stage throughout the month, while arrangements have been made for a Hop-On Hop-Off service to stop in the area.
