MRT proposes new design option to avoid Ampang Park demolition

The iconic Ampang Park Shopping Centre can now be spared from demolition as the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) has announced a new design option for its Ampang Park station.

MRT Corp, in a statement Thursday, said the newly-reviewed design consisted of the MRT Ampang Park station to be shifted slightly away from the mall location.

"However, the station's concept, to build a full physical integration between the MRT Ampang Park station and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Ampang Park station could not be constructed," it said.

Therefore, MRT Corp has proposed an alternative method in which to connect both stations, and a pedestrian linkway would be built beneath the mall.

Those were among the few features of the reviewed design option by MRT in order to preserve the country's first shopping mall which was built in 1973 from being demolished, said MRT Corp.

MRT Corp said certain areas of the basement carpark and ground floor of the mall would be required temporarily to accommodate construction work, and businesses operating at those areas would have to close for up to 36 months. An appropriate compensation would be paid.

It also explained even with the new design option, a mutual agreement would still need to be drawn up between MRT Corp and the strata unit owners.

It said the agreement should be concluded and signed by Jan 31, 2016 to enable this option to take effect and avoid the mall from being demolished.

The Ampang Park MRT Station is an important station for the MRT Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line (SSP Line) because it is the only station where commuters can transfer from MRT line to the Kelana Jaya LRT line.