MBSA: LRT3 pedestrian walkways were required under 2019 approvals for Prasarana and developers

SHAH ALAM, July 1 — The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) today said pedestrian walkways linking LRT3 stations to surrounding developments had been incorporated into development plans approved as early as 2019, following public concerns over incomplete access routes after the line began operations.

In a statement, MBSA said it had required pedestrian walkways connecting the stations to nearby commercial developments, public facilities and activity centres as part of the planning approval process for the LRT3 project.

“MBSA remains committed to providing public amenities that are safe, convenient and easily accessible.

“Accordingly, when approving the development plans for the LRT3 stations in 2019, MBSA imposed conditions requiring the provision of pedestrian walkways connecting the stations to surrounding activity centres, commercial developments and public facilities,” it said.

For the Dato’ Menteri Station, MBSA said it had approved Prasarana Malaysia Bhd’s development plans on the condition that a covered pedestrian walkway, with a minimum width of five feet, be built linking the station to the Shah Alam Convention Centre (SACC), Kompleks PKNS and along Persiaran Bandaraya to the Maybank building.

The council said construction of the covered walkway is currently underway and is expected to be completed by September.

MBSA added that similar requirements had also been imposed on surrounding developments undertaken by PKNS, Nexus Pace Sdn Bhd and Starhill Century Sdn Bhd to complete the wider pedestrian network in the area.

For Stadium Shah Alam Station, the council said Prasarana was required to provide pedestrian walkways linking Jalan Lontar Peluru 13/39 to Jalan Tukul Besi 13/41, as well as along Persiaran Sukan near Management and Science University (MSU).

It said the existing walkway from Jalan Tukul Besi 13/41 to the temporary car park was also required to be upgraded, while similar conditions had been imposed on nearby developments involving MSU Aset Sdn Bhd, PKNS, Fernline Corporation Sdn Bhd, Moripark Sdn Bhd and Lebaran Prospek Sdn Bhd.

MBSA Urban Transport Department director Sheema Rahman said approval for all LRT stations had, since 2019, been subject to planning conditions requiring Prasarana Malaysia Bhd to provide pedestrian walkways within a 200-metre radius of each station.

“The council will not accept the handover of the infrastructure until construction has been fully completed in accordance with the conditions stipulated in the approved infrastructure plans submitted together with the LRT station development.

“Developments within a 400 to 600-metre radius of Dato’ Menteri Station are located on privately owned land that has been granted planning permission, subject to conditions requiring the provision of pedestrian walkways and the upgrading of adjoining roads,” she told Malay Mail.

She said many of these surrounding developments were being carried out in phases and were still under construction when the LRT3 began operations, resulting in some pedestrian infrastructure remaining incomplete or not yet upgraded in line with planning conditions.

As an immediate measure, MBSA said it would construct a 200-metre pedestrian walkway linking Stadium Shah Alam Station to the traffic lights at the Persiaran Sukan-Persiaran Akuatik junction within a month.

It added that the council is also in the process of appointing a contractor to upgrade the pedestrian link between Persiaran Akuatik and Aeon Mall Shah Alam.

“MBSA will continue to work closely with the relevant agencies and developers to ensure the pedestrian network at all LRT3 stations within its administrative area is implemented in a planned and coordinated manner.

“MBSA remains committed to strengthening urban infrastructure that is safer, more inclusive and pedestrian-friendly for the well-being of the people of Shah Alam,” it said.

The statement came hours after state executive councillor Datuk Ng Suee Lim said the Selangor government had instructed Prasarana and developers to complete missing pedestrian infrastructure around the newly opened LRT3 Shah Alam Line, following concerns over incomplete walkways near several stations.

He said Prasarana had been given two months to complete the pedestrian link at Dato’ Menteri station, while developers would also be required to expedite other outstanding pedestrian infrastructure.

Ng had said the issues only became apparent after the line began operating, with MBSA tasked to inspect stations under its jurisdiction while developers would also be instructed to expedite outstanding pedestrian infrastructure.