KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 ― To reduce traffic congestion, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will impose a two-hour limit for the public to park around the central business district (CBD) areas, effective July 16.

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the rate would be RM2 for the first hour and RM3 for the second hour.

"When the two-hour period is up, these vehicles still parked in the CBD areas such as in Bukit Bintang, Imbi and KLCC will be clamped and towed to the DBKL vehicle depot.

"Apart from the CBD areas, the system will also be implemented in Bangsar, Sri Hartamas and Kepong areas,” he told reporters after launching the second tunnel in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim (Jalan Duta) on the Sultan Iskandar Highway (Mahameru Highway) here, today.

Tengku Adnan said with the move it was hoped less vehicles would enter the congested areas and more road users would use public transportation to enter the city.

Tengku Adnan said more electronic notice boards to inform the number of parking spaces available, would be installed in parking complexes for the convenience of city dwellers.

"Right now we are upgrading and increasing the number of information boards and they should be ready by August,” he said.

In his speech, Tengku Adnan said the opening of the second tunnel at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim to Sultan Iskandar Highway was expected to reduce traffic congestion especially during peak hours.

He said the RM45 million project took about two years to complete and was fully funded by the government.

The length of the tunnel below the slip road from Jalan Parlimen to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim is 20 metres and its width is 10 metres, while the length of the tunnel below the Sultan Iskandar Highway is 50 metres and its width is 10 metres. ― Bernama