KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — Commuters using the light rail transit (LRT) and monorail should brace themselves for a fare revision by end of this month, the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) said today, indicating that prices are likely to go up.

SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said the public could not escape from the economic effects that come with the expanded public transportation circuit, but assured Malaysians that the new prices would not be a burden.

“The public is interested to get the best service. (But) there is always the cost element.

“But at the same time, we want to make sure it is not a burden to the rakyat,” he was quoted as saying by The Star daily.

He added that the costs for LRT and monorail tickets have been submitted to the prime minister for approval as well, another daily New Straits Times (NST) reported today.

Currently, LRT tickets cost range between RM0.70 to RM4.70.

According to The Star, Prasarana requested for a price hike back in July as the prices have remained the same since 2002.

NST reported that the Ampang Line extension is expected to see an increase of 40,000 commuters, bringing the number of total commuters up to approximately 235,000 daily.

According to Prasarana’s website, the 18.1km extension project, which starts at the Sri Petaling station, will see an addition of 12 new stations that will pass through Kinrara and Puchong before converging at the Putra Heights station.

The first phase of the project is set to be completed by October 31 and will see four stations ready for use namely Awan Besar, Alam Sutera, Muhibah and Kinrara BK5.

Once completed, the Ampang line will be 45.1km in length.