MRT SBK line a milestone for KL to be among top 20 most liveable cities by 2020

In four years, the population of Kuala Lumpur is estimated to reach 10 million compared with six million in 2013.

Urban residents will demand better amenities, services and sustainability to reflect the 'world-class city' label.

This has created the need for sustainable development that can tackle the challenges of rapid urbanisation.

Understanding the need to enhance the rail network in the Klang Valley, the government had allocated RM23 billion to construct the mass rapid transit (MRT) Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) Line, a 51km-long route with 31 stations between Sungai Buloh and Kajang.

The construction of the MRT SBK Line, which is divided into two phases, is on schedule with Phase 1 (Sungai Buloh to Semantan) expected to be operational by Dec 16, and full operations from Sungai Buloh to Kajang to commence on July 31, 2017.

MRT Strategic Communications and Stakeholder Relations director, Datuk Najmuddin Abdullah said with the completion of the MRT SBK Line, it would be a milestone for Kuala Lumpur to achieve its target of being listed among the top 20 most liveable cities by 2020.

He said comparing KL with the current 20 cities listed by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) this year, such as Melbourne, Australia; Vienna, Austria; Vancouver, Canada; Auckland, New Zealand; and Hamburg, Germany, all these listed cities had a common factor - an efficient public transport system.

According to the National Transformation Programme Annual Report 2015 prepared by the Performance Management Delivery Unit (Pemandu), the Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley (GKL/KV) National Key Economic Area (NKEA) aspires to be among the top economic and liveable cities in the world by 2020.

"So, why is a good rail system vital to making KL a highly liveable city? When we mention liveable city, it means it is a good city to reside in from many aspects, besides it growing economically.

"Therefore, we must ensure good mobility level for the city's residents and to have good public mobility, its rail system must be good," he told Bernama.

He said good mobility in the city would help increase work productivity, which would spur its economy.

"When the transport system is efficient, it offers more economic and social opportunities and benefits that result in positive multiplier effects, such as better accessibility to markets, employment and additional investments.

"I believe the MRT will push KL and the Klang Valley forward and make it a world-class city, improving its standard to become a top liveable city," said Najmuddin. - Bernama