KLANG, June 28 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced that commuters can ride the newly launched LRT3 Shah Alam Line for free for a month beginning tomorrow.

The announcement coincides with the start of operations of the long-awaited rail service.

“From June 29 to July 31, the fare of the LRT3 Shah Alam Line and its feeder bus services along the Shah Alam route will be free of charge,” he said in his speech when launching the LRT3 at the Johan Setia Depot here.

Anwar said the decision followed discussions between the Transport Ministry and the Finance Ministry, acknowledging that while the free rides would incur additional costs, the long-term benefits outweighed the expense.

He said Transport Minister Anthony Loke had pushed for the initiative to ensure more people could benefit from the new rail line.

“There is usually some tension between the Transport Ministry and the Finance Ministry. The Finance Ministry naturally looks at the additional costs involved,” he said.

“But we know this is one of the busiest transport corridors in the country. Heavy congestion means higher carbon emissions, longer travel times, greater fuel consumption and a heavier burden on our environment.”

Anwar said investments in public transport infrastructure should not be judged solely by their upfront costs, but also by their wider economic and environmental benefits.

He noted that traffic congestion reduces productivity, citing studies conducted in Bangkok which found that prolonged gridlock had taken a significant toll on economic output.

“So while the cost of developing transport infrastructure may appear high, we must also consider its impact on the environment, congestion, fuel consumption and the overall efficiency of our transport system,” he said.

Before making the announcement, Anwar said he had sought assurance from technicians that the line had undergone sufficient testing and was ready for public operations.