KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — MRT Corp has urged the authorities to consider different approaches to improve passenger connectivity.

Project director Datuk Amiruddin Ma’aris said MRT Corp had suggested the use of small buses for its feeder service to the Land Public Transport Commission.

“A small or coaster bus can accommodate 20 people and would be able to enter residential areas easily,” he said at the Sungai Buloh—Serdang—Putrajaya (SSP) Line project progress update briefing for MPs, assemblymen and municipal councillors in Sungai Buloh yesterday.

“Although we will be keeping our current 10m buses that can carry 60 people, the larger bus can impact journey time. Feeder buses will be exposed to traffic elements that can hamper their frequency or find it difficult to manoeuvre when vehicles are parked by the roadside.”

Amiruddin said while a smaller bus would mean shorter journey times for passengers, implementing the proposal could be a challenge.

“One important factor is the number of drivers. There should be enough drivers to sustain the operation,” he said.

“When you look at some cities around the world, feeder bus services are provided by the community to ferry residents. I believe if we can achieve something like this, it could improve MRT’s ridership.” 

As of May 1, 7.5 per cent of the SSP line had been completed and is projected to reach 15 to 18 per cent completion by year-end. Currently, half of the line’s 67 work packages worth RM30 billion have been tendered out and awarded. MRT has spent up to RM2.2 billion to acquire land for the line’s construction.

“Construction works, such as underground stations, are on schedule,” he said during a site visit to Prima Damansara, one of its stations. 

Phase One of the SSP Line between Kwasa Damansara and Kampung Batu Station is expected to begin operations in July 2021, with the entire line fully operational in July 2022. 

The first half of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang line from Sungai Buloh to Semantan commenced operations on Dec 16 last year, and has since registered a ridership of 2.8 million. 

The second half, which connects Kuala Lumpur, Cheras and Kajang, is slated for operations at the end of July.