KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will appoint an independent consultant to vet the traffic impact assessment (TIA) report prepared by the developer of the proposed Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex).
The announcement was made during a meeting with MBPJ mayor Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad yesterday, according to local councillor Lee Suet Sen.
“It has not been decided who is the consultant but the decision was announced by the mayor today,” he told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.
“Kidex Sdn Bhd's TIA is expected to completed by end of this month,” he added.
When asked whether the project developer has agreed to furnish the TIA along with other documents to the city council, Lee said they must if they want the project to move forward.
“We need the documents so that we can scrutinise and study it. They have to if they want an approval,” Lee added.
Yesterday's special briefing by Kidex Sdn Bhd and the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to explain the RM2.42 billion elevated highway project has been postponed indefinitely to allow the Selangor Town and Country Planning Department (JPBD) to first hold a separate briefing on the Kidex which will not include federal and state lawmakers.
The Kidex project has been rejected on three occasions by the city council as developers had failed to provide sufficient details.
Under Section 18 of the Town Country and Planning Act (TCPA), construction cannot start unless the highway fits with MBPJ’s plans.
Kidex is currently not incorporated into the council’s blueprint for Petaling Jaya city.
Despite the growing opposition, mounting evidence in the form of replies in Parliament and the state legislative assembly indicate that the project is set to proceed.
Among the areas that could be affected by the project are Tropicana Mall, SS2 Mall, Rothman’s traffic lights, Section 14, Amcorp Mall, Hilton Petaling Jaya, Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital, Jalan Templer roundabout, Taman Datuk Harun, Taman Medan Baru and Bandar Kinrara.
Construction of the multi-billion ringgit highway could begin as soon as next year and be completed by 2018.
