KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 ― Once considered far from the city (this was back in the late 1970s and 1980s) due to the lack of infrastructure, Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) in Kuala Lumpur is presently a prime township that is developing rapidly and getting more modern each day.
Originally a piece of old rubber estate land, TTDI has grown to become an upper middle class residential area complete with recreational parks, schools, religious amenities, banks, supermarkets and eateries. There are also several medical centres and malls close by.
The township which was born in 1974 is named after the late Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman. He was Malaysia's first ambassador to the US and a Malaysian representative to the United Nations before becoming the country’s deputy prime minister in 1970.
The area has seen some major changes over the decades. These include the introduction of condominium units off Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi in the late 1980s. These modern dwellings were modelled after resort-style living and they are called Kiara Green Townhouses.
Another transformation was the construction of the RM6.5 million Damansara bypass to ease traffic congestion through the then “cowboy town” area now known as Bandar Utama.
A most pleasant and welcoming change took place in 1993 when an oxidation pond in front of the township’s popular Pasar Besar Taman Tun Dr Ismail was relocated and replaced with a sophisticated RM10 million mechanised regional sewage treatment plant.
Residents and road users of Jalan Damansara in the 1980s were unfortunately familiar with this stinky spot.
Another notable progress was the construction and widening of roads that led to the residential area making it a sought-after neighbourhood among locals and expats alike.
It is easily reachable via major highways such as the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) and the Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP).
No surprise why the TTDI township was honoured with the FIABCI Award of Distinction for Residential Property in 1994. The award is called the Federation Internationale des Administrateurs de Bien-Conselis Immobiliers or The International Real Estate Federation.
With the opening of the TTDI MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) station in December last year, the area has become even more accessible to visitors and convenient for residents.
The elevated station is built above busy Jalan Damansara and the MRT is part of the new Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line.
The stop has two entrances, one each on the opposite sides of the road. They were once the location of petrol stations.
Entrance A is on the Kepong-bound side of Jalan Damansara while Entrance B is on the Kuala Lumpur-bound side of Jalan Damansara. The latter can also be accessed from Jalan Wan Kadir 4.
Among the commercial spots within walking distance from the station are Hero Supermarket, PrimaNora Medical Centre and Menara Glomac. It is also close by several upmarket apartments.
The station itself is home to Family Mart, a convenience store that sells mostly Japanese items. Here, you can find TokyoCity Coca Cola, the carbonated soft drink poured into a 250ml red bottle adorned with the silhouette of Tokyo’s skyscrapers (RM8.90 each), seasoned wasabi seaweed (RM5.40 a packet), Meiji milk chocolate (RM8.70 a bar), grilled salmon onigiri (RM4.50 a pack) and Japanese Mochitaro rice crackers (RM6.50 a packet).
Fans of Hello Kitty will also be delighted to know that the shop stocks pastel-coloured moon cakes featuring the animated character packed in a cooler bag (RM128) or tin container (RM89.90).
Residents and visitors who intend to use the MRT could take the feeder buses to get to and from the station.
The feeder bus T814 which has a stop at Entrance B goes to Jalan Dato Mohd Fuad, Jalan Dato Sulaiman, Persiaran Zaaba, Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi 2 and Jalan Athinahappan among other places.
Entrance A is the stop for feeder bus T813 which route covers Jalan Damansara, Damansara-Puchong Expressway, Jalan SS21/56, Jalan SS21/1, Sprint Highway, Jalan SS22/23, Jalan SS22/43 and Jalan SS22/41.
