KUALA LUMPUR – The Land Public Transport Agency (LPTA) hopes that more private transport providers will work together to help deal with first- and last-mile issues to encourage more optimal and comprehensive use of public transport.
This is in line with the full operation of the MRT Putrajaya line, or MRT2, from Kwasa Damansara to Putrajaya beginning tomorrow at 3pm after being launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
LPTA director-general Datuk Azlan Shah Al Bakri said the agency had introduced the bus-on-demand (BOD) service through a proof of concept since last year to strengthen public transport.
He said one of the objectives was to study the service’s effectiveness, assess its impact on existing services – such as stage buses and taxis – and collect information on the public’s use of the BOD service.
“The BOD service is a booking of bus services through an app that is carried out without a fixed schedule and route, and only operates in LPTA-approved zones.
“It uses small-sized vehicles such as minibuses, coasters, or vans and operates between residential houses and public transport stations,” he said.
Azlan Shah said several private companies have shown interest in running BOD services but so far, only two have been approved by the LPTA.
“The two companies are Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd and Badan Bas Coach Sdn Bhd, which are still in discussions with Prasarana Malaysia Bhd to work together to solve this problem in Puchong and Subang Jaya,” he said.
The agency is ready to add the service at other stations in all existing route networks if successful, he added.
He said the collaboration was important to support the over 1,000 existing stage bus services in the Klang Valley, as well as feeder buses to rail and bus stations and e-hailing and taxi options.
“For the opening of MRT2, approximately 107 more feeder buses will be provided, which are expected to complement the public transport network,” he said.
The MRT2 Phase One alignment from Kwasa Damansara to Kg Batu began serving the public on June 16, 2022.
MRT2 involves a 57.7-km route from Kwasa Damansara to Putrajaya Sentral, with 36 stations – 27 elevated and nine underground – as well as 49 train sets. The project’s construction cost a total of RM30.53 billion. – Bernama, March 15, 2023
