Launch of Sg Buloh-Kajang MRT line a significant milestone

Affin Hwang Investment Bank Vice-President/Head of Retail Research, Datuk Dr Nazri Khan Adam Khan, said the completion of the 51-kilometre line would boost the economy as well as the property sector.

“The integration of MRT, Light Rail Transit, combined with Express Rail Link, and in future, the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail, would put Kuala Lumpur on the map as a world class transportation hub,” he told Bernama.

Phase two of the MRT SBK line, which cost RM21 billion and has 31 stations, is expected to benefit some 500,000 passengers daily.

He said more businesses would take place and in future, more multinational companies were expected to come in.

“With the balance presence between property, business and transportation sustainability, it will lead to a more liveable Kuala Lumpur,” he pointed out, adding that property values at areas involved along the MRT should also increase between 10-30 per cent, depending on location.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in his blog, described all projects involving public transport as being close to his heart, as a good public transport could generate economic growth and improve the quality of people’s life.

He emphasised that the government would strive to further expand transportation network so that commuters could travel to their workplace faster at a much lower cost.

The quality of life, according to Najib, could be enhanced with more leisure time and transport cost savings.

He said the welfare of the people would continue to be given priority in the formulation of government policies.

Nazri Khan said the mode of public transport available with the completion of the SBK MRT line would help reduce household burden as Malaysians had spent a big portion of their income on transportation.

“We would like to congratulate the government for managing to complete the mega transportation project on time within the budget as promised with no cost over-run,” he said.

Meantime, Public Investment Bank, in a research note, said that the MRT construction as well as other coming transportation projects, would keep the construction sector occupied where thousands of jobs would be created along the process.