KLANG: The development of transit-oriented development projects, particularly affordable housing, should be accelerated around LRT stations to encourage greater use of public transport.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said while rail infrastructure was a strategic investment, land surrounding stations should be developed in tandem through integrated projects instead of being underutilised.
He said this in his speech at the launch of the LRT Shah Alam Line on Sunday (June 28).
He cited the Sri Andalas station, where a large park-and-ride facility occupies land that could be redeveloped for affordable housing and mixed-use projects while generating returns for Prasarana.
"Public transport is a highly strategic investment. Areas served by rail lines should be developed in an integrated manner through transit-oriented development," he said.
"We have a large parcel of land in Sri Andalas currently used as a 500-bay car park. However, if we simply use the site for parking, it would not be the best use of the land," he added.
He noted that the site could be developed to stimulate growth in the surrounding area while generating returns for Prasarana.
"We, therefore, seek the Prime Minister's mandate to enable Prasarana to expedite the implementation of transit-oriented development projects, particularly for public and affordable housing for city residents," he said.
This would allow people to own homes close to LRT stations while enjoying greater convenience in their daily commute.
Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shaari.
Loke added that the ministry aims to encourage more Klang Valley residents to live near public transport stations to ensure they use rail lines as their primary mode of travel.
He said the ministry is working alongside government agencies, including Prasarana, to accelerate such developments.
Meanwhile, Loke said the opening of the LRT Shah Alam Line, which involved an investment of RM16bil, will serve as a catalyst for greater public transport usage.
In a press conference later, Loke said the projects would be undertaken through collaborations between Prasarana and private developers, as the land belonged to the government-owned operator.
"The projects will not be developed by the government itself. We will work with private developers to develop the land and hope to keep prices at a more affordable level so that more people can own homes near public transport," he said.
He noted that no transit-oriented projects have been finalised for the Shah Alam line yet.
However, he said Sri Andalas, Kayu Ara, Johan Setia and Bandar Bukit Tinggi stations are among the locations with the greatest potential due to their extensive surface-level park-and-ride facilities.
"Sri Andalas has about 500 parking bays, while Kayu Ara, Johan Setia and Bandar Bukit Tinggi have around 350, 550 and 600 bays respectively," he said.
He said the ministry would study how these sites could be redeveloped into integrated projects while retaining parking facilities, including through multi-storey or basement car parks.
