Issues involving land reclamation orders and compensation for affected residents remain unresolved, even as Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana) vows to commence the RM7 billion LRT extension project by the end of this month.
Prasarana group director, Zulkifli Mohd Yusoff, announced today that the extension of the Kelana Jaya and Ampang lines 15 percent and 20 percent complete, respectively, which includes the relocation of underground utility cables.
He said the construction process will be done in several stages: advanced work (such as relocation of cables), facilities works (such as piling); and system works (commissioning of the facilities and their testing). The line extension project is scheduled to be completed by mid-2014.
However, Kampung Sri Aman Residents Association, secretary Rosman Rashid told Komunitikini that Prasarana has yet to compensate a woman whose home will be acquired to build a pier that will support the train’s guideway.
“Prasarana in January has realigned the route to affect only one home in Kampung Sri Aman instead of 30. This is the best route we can accept after more than a half-year of discussions,” he said.
He added that the woman’s home spans three acres and a quarter of it will be turned into safety zone to the pier.
Rosman was surprised to learn that Prasarana is about to kickstart the project as he is tasked to serve a land acquisition notice on the woman only in two weeks time.
He said the villagers would welcome the intrusion of the LRT building works , provided Prasarana rebuilds a destroyed drainage system in the village, contributes to a proposed RM7.5 million mosque and builds a multipurpose hall for the village.
“When they visited our village on January 20, they agreed to take these demands into consideration,” Rosman said.
It is learned that Prasarana has yet to decide on building a station in Kampung Sri Aman. It is however confirmed that the LRT line will not pass through the village, but through Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru instead.
On a related note, Zulkifli said Prasarana has been granted the green light by the Land Office to issue Form K (land acquisition form) on Saujana Residency residents for the acquisition of a tennis court which lies along the proposed route, on the condition that the residents there must be compensated.
“From our estimation, only one or two units on the third floor of a block of apartments will be affected by the proposed route,” he said.
He said the government subsidiary will propose building a sound barrier and an enclosed tunnel to mitigate the nuisance to the residents there.
Saujana Residency’s residents association chairman, Marcus Tan, said they were being kept in dark about developments.
“The developer Lion Industries Corporation has been representing the residents to deal with Prasarana because it still owns the land title of this new [apartment] building,” he said.
He was told that the developer is seeking RM11 million in compensation from Prasarana. Two days ago, Prasarana informed the press it was paying RM4 million to the residents.
“That compensation money should be given to the Joint Management Body (of Saujana Regency) to channel to residents,” he said (right).
He hoped Prasarana can explain to residents how this issue can be resolved.
Meanwhile, Prasarana will purchase another 35 sets of four-car trains and at least 20 sets of six-car trains for the Kelana Jaya and Ampang Jaya lines, respectively.
It will issue sukuk bonds worth RM5billion to fund the project.
Ticket fares are expected to remain the same as those currently charged.
C. Khor
CJMY
