KUALA LUMPUR – Expecting a “beloved city” to remain the same is not feasible, a mobility expert tells Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) elevated highway detractors.
Chief executive officer and co-founder of Asia Mobiliti, Ramanchandran Muniandy, said urban areas require rejuvenation, especially in terms of development, progress, and growth.
“You have to balance it out. It is unrealistic to expect parts of your beloved city to stay the same forever.
“I think there are parts of Petaling Jaya that are earmarked for huge redevelopment and rejuvenation, but with that comes the remodelling of your physical place,” he said in an interview with BFM Radio yesterday.
For instance, Ramanchandran said that old single-storey bungalows with plots of land may not be sustainable places to live when rejuvenation takes place.
He added that efficient urban planning is better applied to new townships, not established ones in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.
He was commenting in response to PJD Link’s detractors, including those who favour the project but adopted a “not in my backyard” attitude, where they objected to the highway being built near their residence.
“Some (residents) claim (they are okay with the project) if it’s not in (their) backyards and is instead underground. But underground highways cost significantly more than building them above ground.”
Nonetheless, Ramanchandran said developers should strive to accommodate the residents.
“You (developers) have to think about repurposing zones, how to redesignate some residential areas, and even moving some of the people into new places while incentivising them to give up their land at a good premium.
“(This is) so some new redevelopment can take place there, or even (the construction) of a big, nice park… the ‘not in my backyard’ problem will present an opportunity for us to reshape our city.”
Ramanchandran suggested the government adopt technology when addressing current town planning issues to optimise infrastructure spending.
“Let’s use more technology and data to guide this (effort). We need to inject a lot of data-driven insights into this, leverage mobility data, and start building mobility patents over our cities in real-time.”
Ramanchandran pointed out that the government could emulate the Kuching urban transport system, which he said incorporated Bus Rapid Transit-like services on trackless lanes as alternatives to railway facilities.
He also said ground transportation systems need more attention, as they are “the easiest, fastest, and most economical way” to transport people, while also suggesting reforming the usage of buses to smaller shuttles.
Foster public-private partnerships
Despite PJD Link’s cancellation, Ramanchandran said the public and private sectors should inculcate partnerships for the benefit of communities and the nation.
Noting that PJD Link’s developer had offered to fully finance the project, he said the concept of such partnerships is inevitable and should be fostered.
“I think it is positive and healthy that the government does not bear the risk of the construction and finances of projects,” he said, in the context of such partnerships.
“(This is) so that funding can be channelled towards areas with immediate need, as it takes time to build a highway, and you need to operate and maintain it (too).”
However, he said the processes of these partnerships require refinement from both sides of the collaboration, as they are skewed.
“We need to upscale the public side of engagement with private parties, so you have experts on both sides. (On) the private side, we need to raise the bar in terms of public expectations,” he said.
On Wednesday, government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said the cabinet decided to scrap the project after the developer failed to fulfil six out of the 11 established requirements.
Earlier today, sources told Scoop that PJD Link’s cancellation could allegedly cost taxpayers between RM20 million and RM100 million, as the concessionaire incurred costs for various feasibility studies and approvals spanning years.
The project was met with heavy and persistent opposition, largely on the part of more affluent neighbourhoods in Petaling Jaya.
However, communities in Taman Medan, Kinrara, Kg Kayu Ara, and Kg Melayu Petaling Jaya have reportedly supported the RM4.4 billion project in recent months.
Business groups, including Bumiputera contractors, had also voiced support for the RM4.4 billion project, which was estimated to create around 12,000 jobs. – April 20, 2024
– April 20, 2024