RTS on track for completion by 2026

Work in progress: An aerial view of the Bukit Chagar RTS Link station in Johor Baru.

JOHOR BARU: The Rail Transit System (RTS) Link between Bukit Chagar and Woodlands North in Singapore is expected to reduce traffic congestion on the Causeway.

Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim said the RTS project was on track for completion by the end of December 2026, with it being fully operational by Jan 1, 2027.

“We resolved the land acquisition matter at Wadihana area for the RTS project in December last year. We’ve made 15% progress to date and we are on track to meet the completion time frame.

“Once the RTS is fully operational, we expect to absorb 35% out of the daily 350,000 travellers recorded during pre-pandemic days commuting between Malaysia and Singapore using the Causeway,” he added.

Mohd Zarif said this when hosting a group of business students from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Singapore Management University at Menara JLand here yesterday.

He said RTS could ferry 10,000 passengers an hour from Johor to Singapore. The journey will take 15 minutes.

“We are working closely with various agencies such as the Immigration Department, Customs Department and the Health Ministry to ease travel flow using the RTS.

The fare has not been fixed, but it will be as competitive as public transport.

Mohd Zarif said RTS would be a game-changer for the country’s economy as it could help spur more growth in the Johor Baru city area.

He said the RTS could also attract foreign investment to Johor.

Mohd Zarif said the connection could boost the economy in healthcare, higher education and hospitality sectors.

“To attract more investors and make connectivity much more accessible within the city area, MRT Corp is currently conducting a study on traffic dispersal system connecting the RTS Link with the Eastern Dispersal Link expressway.

“We will hand over our report to both Johor and the Federal Government and the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) when completed within the next few months,” he said.