KUALA LUMPUR – Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Prasarana will seek RM38 million in compensation, which includes repair costs and costs for intermediate bus services, from the project developer responsible for the damage to the Ampang LRT line structures between Masjid Jamek and Bandaraya stations.
He added that the claim for compensation for the disruption of train services between these stations would be pursued through legal means.
“The instruction from the ministry back then was to prioritise the repair of the structures before initiating any compensation claims.
“We cannot wait for the legal process to take place before repairs,” he said in a press conference after his walkabout in conjunction with the reopening of the Bandaraya-Masjid Jamek LRT station line today.
The train service resumed today after one year of non-operation due to damage to the stations.
It was reported last year that three viaduct structures and piers were cracked on the Ampang LRT line between Masjid Jamek and Bandaraya, believed to be caused by the construction of a 44-storey hotel nearby.
RapidKL found a “kinked track alignment” near the Bandaraya station, attributing it to structural damage to a pillar in the area due to the construction.
Loke was reported as saying that the construction project did not obtain the approval of the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad).
Asked about the hotel’s construction, Loke said it does not fall under the ministry’s purview; however, he ensured that measures would be taken to prevent such occurrences in the future.
“The Kuala Lumpur City Council will decide whether the construction will resume or not, not the ministry.
“But if the hotel construction proceeds, the Transport Ministry will impose strict conditions to ensure that such disruptions do not happen again.
“We are disappointed that the train line between the two stations had to be closed for a year,” he said.
Loke also said that local councils must make sure that construction sites within a 250m radius of train stations consider safety factors before approving future projects, adding that consultation must also be done with Prasarana and Apad. – February 17, 2024