AN Amanah leader said the government should not cancel the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) project without any alternative solutions to alleviate traffic congestion in Petaling Jaya.

Petaling Jaya Amanah secretary Ammar Atan said cancelling the project without any alternative projects was unjustified as traffic congestion was worsening in the area.

The Amanah Youth vice-chief also proposed a bus rail transit (BRT) project, saying this would be more cost-effective and easier to construct.

“The BRT system, which involves dedicated bus lanes at street level or using overpasses, is more feasible compared to constructing new highways to alleviate road congestion,” he said in a statement on Friday (April 26).

“More importantly, the BRT can also be connected to other public transportation systems such as the LRT, MRT and KTM to ensure that users enjoy seamless connections.”

Ammar further expressed hope that the BRT proposal would be looked into for the sake of the people, and expressed confidence that it would be the best model to be expanded to other high traffic areas.

“In fact, the BRT project would greatly benefit the low- and middle-income group,” he added.

According to Ammar, the existing Prasarana Malaysia Berhad buses and private operators could be roped in, and that this should be complemented by government efforts to widen roads and review configurations.

“If necessary, Petaling Jaya Amanah believes that a new highway can be built, but with a new alignment that totally avoids or minimally passes through residential areas,” he reckoned.

“The people cannot wait for years for a solution (to the traffic congestion) as experienced under previous governments.”

On April 17, government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil announced that the PJD Link has been cancelled as its developer had failed to fulfil six of the 11 conditions set by Putrajaya.

The project developer, PJD Link (M) Sdn Bhd, later said it was studying requests for a review of the highway’s alignment.

The PJD Link was a proposed 25.4km dual-lane elevated expressway connecting Damansara to Bandar Kinrara in Selangor.

The project would have connected the north and south of Petaling Jaya, passing through Petaling Jaya Utara, Bandar Utama, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Petaling Jaya city centre, Taman Dato’ Harun, Taman Medan Baru, Taman Sri Manja, Bandar Kinrara and Bukit Jalil Technology Park. - April 26, 2024 

https://focusmalaysia.my/amanah-youth-govt-shouldnt-cancel-pjd-link-without-alternative-solution/