Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana) assured Medan Damansara residents that their homes would not be acquired to build the alignment of the upcoming Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT line.
The project delivery partner (PDP) MMC-Gamuda general manager Adil Putra Ahmad said the alignment will be built on an elevated track in middle of Sprint Highway.
He also dismissed rumours that the alignment leading to Pusat Bandar Damansara station would be built underground. “The cost would be five times higher if we were to built (the tracks) underground, besides we would need to acquire 28 houses,” Adil said.
Some 50 residents who attended the briefing, however, remained skeptical about Prasarana’s assertion.
“If there is no land acquisition, why did the rumours spread around and (why did it ) even get into the newspaper?” Medan Damansara residents association secretary Peter Raiappan asked.
Adil maintained that an elevated track is the best option for the alignment since the company plans to save on cost while delivering the project.
“It is unlikely that we will reroute the alignment because micro-level of the final decision is made based on public feedbacks,” he said.
However, Adil, did not issue a formal guarantee as they claimed they did not have the final say.
During the briefing, the residents showed equal concern on the noise pollution, traffic influx and parking woes which will be brought along with the project.
They also opposed a “park n ride” facility at Pusat Bandar Damansara’s station as they claimed it will encourage motorists to find “free parking space” in their neighbourhood.
In response to the concern on noise pollution, the panelists said the elevated track will be 18 to 20 meters tall along Medan Damansara and sound barrier will be built if necessary.
He also said that some 50 feeder buses will also be provided to encourage people to leave their cars at home.
CJMY
Jimmy Tan
