Proposals for new highways in Klang Valley approved, says works minister

 

Fadillah Yusof says even with the new highways, there is no guarantee congestion will reduce, given the increase in the number of vehicles on the road. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has approved proposals from the private sector for the construction of new highways, including around the Klang Valley, works minister Fadillah Yusof said today.

He said they were among several proposals that the government had received for the construction of highways to address the problem of traffic congestion.

He added that the other proposals are still under consideration.

“We will continue to look into the other proposals and hope the private sector will comply with the set requirements and conditions once approval has been granted.

“With these new highways, we hope the connectivity within the Klang Valley and with the rest of the country will improve,” he told reporters at the works ministry’s Hari Raya celebration today.

However, Fadillah said there was no guarantee that these new highways would alleviate the traffic congestion due to the increasing number of vehicles on the road.

“The government continues to invest in public transport, such as the MRT and LRT, to ensure alternatives are available to the people.

“If 60% of the people use the roads while 40% use public transport, it can offset the increase in vehicle numbers and potentially reduce traffic congestion,” he said.

According to Fadillah, any new highway would also have to follow a development plan based on a five-year study. - FMT