KUALA LUMPUR: There are no plans to roll out or expand the Automated Rapid Transit (ART) system in Putrajaya after its projected 10-year cost of RM211.95mil was deemed too high, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Lo Su Fui said the Transport Ministry conducted an ART pilot in Putrajaya from May 1 to Aug 31, 2024, after which a non-binding, market study proposal was submitted to Putrajaya Corporation (PPJ).
"Preliminary studies found that the estimated cost of implementing the ART system, including infrastructure development, systems, operations and maintenance, was very high at RM211.95mil over a 10-year period.
"This cost is beyond the financial capacity of PPJ as a local authority.
"Based on this, PPJ did not proceed with the proposed implementation of ART in Putrajaya and there are currently no plans for subsequent phase expansions," he said in reply to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa (PH-Sekijang) during Question Time on Monday (Feb 9).
Zaliha had asked the government to provide the latest status and the official operational date for the Automated Rapid Transit (ART) system in Putrajaya, given that a pilot phase had previously been conducted.
She also wanted details of the expansion plan for subsequent phases to ensure more efficient first- and last-mile connectivity to government complexes and existing transport stations (MRT/ERL) to reduce traffic congestion in the federal administrative centre.
Lo however, said PPJ remains open to considering future public transport planning needs, subject to financial capability and funding approvals, particularly to support a 70:30 public transport modal share target, 70% public transport usage and 30% private vehicles.
To reduce traffic congestion in Putrajaya, the deputy minister said PPJ has implemented several improvement measures, including implementing the Nadiputra buses, which operate seven daily routes connecting residential areas, schools, commercial centres and Putrajaya Sentral Terminal with government offices and vice versa.
It also implemented centralised traffic management through the Putrajaya Control Centre (PCC) and integrated new public transport initiatives, such as Demand Responsive Transit (DRT), implemented in stages to ease congestion, alongside the preparation of the Transport Masterplan Study and Action Plan 2050.
