B66 route reopens after 2022 Batang Kali landslide

Have a safe trip: Izham handing over a goody bag to a driver while others look on at the reopening of the B66 route connecting Jalan Batang Kali to Genting Highlands. — KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star

HULU SELANGOR: The B66 route connecting Jalan Batang Kali to Genting Highlands has been reopened, nearly two years after a tragic landslide at the Father’s Organic Farm campsite.

The incident, which occurred on Dec 16, 2022, claimed 31 lives and prompted the Works Ministry to close the route to facilitate critical slope and road repairs at the site.

State infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Izham Hashim said the state government had allocated RM19mil to the Selangor Public Works Department (PWD) for repair works.

Initially, it was expected to be completed in March, but due to construction delays the road reopening was postponed to yesterday.

Izham said after a site inspection, the Selangor government had instructed the PWD to use the slope design known as the TerraLink Wall System, which was also implemented in Cameron Highlands.

“With the reopening of the Batang Kali-Genting Highlands road, it will greatly improve convenience for road users. It is estimated that 10,000 people will use this route daily,” he said.

During the construction period, the road was closed to the public and only one lane was opened for construction personnel.

Meanwhile, Kamal Abshah Abd Ghani, chief special officer to Batang Kali assemblyman Muhammad Muhaimin Harith Abdullah Sani, said with the reopening of the road, users can reach Genting Highlands in just 40 minutes – making it the best route for those travelling to the east coast.

Since the closure of the B66 route, road users have had to take alternative routes via B113 Jalan Batang Kali-Ulu Yam to B23 Jalan Ulu Yam-Batu Caves or through the main route (FT1001 Jalan Kuala Lumpur-Ipoh).

These detours had extended the travel time to about two hours, causing inconvenience to road users.

“Muhammad Muhaimin had visited the residents in the area twice and understood their challenges. During the road closure, their businesses were significantly affected.

“However, there are several development plans for Hulu Selangor which will help boost the local economy,” Kamal Abshah said when contacted.

He added that UMW Development Sdn Bhd is developing 765.63 acres of land in the area as the Serendah High-Value Manufacturing Park (Serendah HVM).

According to the Hulu Selangor District Local Plan 2035, Serendah has already been designated as a Transportation Manufacturing Hub.

Along with Invest Selangor, plans are in place to promote and attract more major players in the automotive industry to set up plants not only in Serendah, but also in Sungai Choh, Bandar Bukit Beruntung, Bandar Bukit Sentosa and Bandar Sungai Buaya, Kamal Abshah added.