SEREMBAN: The Railway Asset Corporation (RAC) is looking at several new proposals to redevelop the Seremban KTM station and its surrounding area, says Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
The Transport Minister said this was to turn the station into an integrated transportation hub similar to KL Sentral.
"The RAC has already started the first phase of the redevelopment which is to upgrade the facade and electrical systems of the station and the parking area which will cost some RM8.3mil.
"It will also upgrade and beautify a tunnel linking a section of the stretch from the station to the Terminal 1 bus station. This project is expected to be completed in early 2025," he said.
Loke said this when speaking to reporters after the handing over of keys to buyers of the Residensi Seremban Sentral (RSS) PR1MA housing project here.
Also present were Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming.
Loke, who is also Seremban MP, said there was a pressing need to redevelop the station as it no longer had the capacity to handle the number of passengers.
The completion of the 1,504 unit RSS PR1MA project located a short walking distance away from the station was also under the first phase of the redevelopment plan.
"Also, the plan to redevelop the area was part of RAC's role to promote the transit-oriented-development concept.
"We need to have an integrated development where all buildings in the area are interconnected and those living at the RSS for example, can leave their cars at home and just walk a short distance to use public transport etcetera," he said adding that under the TOD concept, there would be several types of public transport systems to enable the people to travel more conducively.
Loke said the redevelopment was also necessary as the 110km Klang Valley Double Tracking 2 project linking Salak South to Seremban and KL Sentral to Port Klang had also commenced.
The KVDT 2 project, which is expected to be completed at the end of 2027 would involve the replacement of tracks more than 25 years old and the upgrading of electrification and communication systems between stations.
However, Loke said the facade of the Seremban KTM station would remain the same as it was a heritage building.
"Whatever new development will be carried out behind the existing main structure of the heritage building," he said.
Elaborating, Loke said the new development may also see the construction of more affordable homes, commercial and retail businesses, hotels and other institutions.
