KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry expects the redevelopment of Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station (KL Sentral) to start early next year.
Its minister, Anthony Loke, said that the terms and conditions for the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) redevelopment project are still being negotiated between the Public Private Partnership Unit (Ukas) and the developer.
"We must finalise the agreement first before we can start the construction. So we hope the negotiation can be completed within this year, in the next two to three months, and hopefully, the project can begin early next year.
"With PPP, the entire cost will be borne by the developer. In return, the developer will receive the air rights, which allows them to construct a building on top of the station, creating a mixed-use development,” he said during a press conference here on Thursday (Oct 24).
Loke was asked to comment on the progress of the KL Sentral redevelopment, which was previously reported to begin later this year.
He also assured that KL Sentral would continue operating as usual during the project.
Also read: KL Sentral Station redevelopment project to commence year-end - Loke
Meanwhile, Loke stated that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement during the tabling of Budget 2025 regarding the continuation of the My50 pass initiative, with an allocation of RM216mil, is expected to attract more public transport users in the Klang Valley.
"Currently, the monthly average subscription for the My50 pass is approximately 226,000 users, a significant increase compared to just 98,000 subscriptions when it was launched in 2019. We are confident that these statistics will continue to rise with the extension of the My50 initiative," he said.
Loke added that public transport facilities would continue to be improved, particularly in peak trip frequency, reducing technical disruptions and enhancing My50 subscription through the Touch 'n Go ewallet.
The My50 initiative offers an unlimited travel pass for RM50 per month, providing access to rail and bus services operated by Prasarana throughout the Klang Valley.
Meanwhile, when asked about the bidding for the special vehicle registration number series Madani, Loke noted that the series’ sales revenue had reached RM2.6mil.
In a separate development, Loke said he would soon announce an initiative for flight fares during the festive season. – Bernama
