KLANG: The government has decided to provide free rides on the new LRT Shah Alam line and its feeder buses until July 31.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced this when launching the LRT3 line at the Johan Setia LRT depot here.
He said greater use of public transport would help reduce traffic congestion, save travel time and fuel, and lower carbon emissions.
According to Anwar, the free service would run from tomorrow to July 31 to encourage the public to use the new line.
Separately, he also urged civil servants to speed up project approvals without compromising integrity and good governance.
He said delays in approvals often caused hardship to the public, including those waiting for their homes to be completed.
“Sometimes, matters that should be settled in two weeks or two months take eight months.
“This is something we can improve. For those waiting for their houses to be completed, even a month’s delay is a burden,” he said.
Anwar also backed transport minister Loke Siew Fook’s proposal to develop areas around LRT stations through transit-oriented development, with priority given to people’s housing and small business spaces.
Speaking at the same event, Loke said the My50 unlimited travel pass would be extended to the Shah Alam LRT line from Aug 1, after the free travel period ends.
“This means that commuters could now use their My50 pass on all the lines,” he told a press conference after the launch.
Loke said the government hoped the move would encourage more workers and students along the route to use public transport.
He said the 37.8km line, which has 20 stations, would begin operations at 6am tomorrow and was expected to carry up to 60,000 passengers a day in its first year.
The line connects Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya to Johan Setia in Klang, and links with the MRT Kajang line at Bandar Utama and the LRT Kelana Jaya line at Glenmarie.
Loke said the ministry would monitor ridership weekly to decide whether more trains should be added or waiting times shortened in the future.
