LRT3 to give small businesses a boost

 Business groups and an economist agree that the new rail service has the potential to draw shoppers and diners to Klang.

With the LRT3 service already in full swing, commuters now have another option when travelling between Petaling Jaya and Klang.

PETALING JAYA:

As the LRT3 service begins, small businesses along its route between Petaling Jaya and Klang are expected to get a boost, according to business groups and an economist.

SME Association of Malaysia president Chin Chee Seong said that based on the trend along LRT lines in other parts of the Klang Valley, businesses are likely to register an increase in revenue as a result of higher footfall.

Chin Chee Seong.

Citing the example of Klang, Chin said the royal city has a variety of dining and retail attractions, but people are unwilling to drive there because of the traffic congestion.

“The LRT3 will play a vital role (in giving businesses there a shot in the arm),” he told FMT.

He singled out food outlets, shops and tourist spots that, he said, could benefit from the service. “It will now be easier for people from outside Klang to come in. They will not have to worry about traffic and parking,” he added.

Chin said a rail network would also make it easier for businesses in surrounding areas to hire workers.

He said some workers had turned down jobs in the past because the workplace was too far or difficult to reach without public transport.

“With LRT3, workers will have more options. It opens up the labour pool for SMEs, especially in the western (part of) the Klang Valley. This is great for labour mobility,” he added.

The LRT3, officially known as the LRT Shah Alam Line, is a 37.8km rail line connecting Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya, through Shah Alam, to Klang. It has 25 stations, with 20 already opened and the remaining five to follow later.

Afzanizam Abdul Rashid.

Bank Muamalat chief economist Afzanizam Rashid said the LRT3 has the potential to strengthen Klang’s economy by improving accessibility.

“LRT stations can also be seen as a property play as they provide retail space,” he said.

However, Afzanizam said that coordination among the federal government, the state government, local councils and transport operators will be crucial. Without integrated planning, he said, the “economic returns from LRT3 may fall short of its potential”.

He pointed out that rail is only one part of the ecosystem. “The first-mile and last-mile connections are equally important. Commuters must be able to travel conveniently between stations and their homes or workplaces.

That means priority has to go to improving feeder bus service, provision of safe, pedestrian walkways, cycling infrastructure, and adequate park-and-ride facilities.

He said the government could also encourage transit-oriented development with mixed residential, commercial and retail spaces around stations.

Afzanizam pointed out that the LRT3 is part of the Greater Klang Valley economic ecosystem rather than just a rail line to serve Klang.

“By integrating Klang more closely with major employment centres such as Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur, it can support more balanced regional development,” he added.

National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia chairman N Gobalakrishnan said Little India in Klang could benefit because many visitors had avoided the area in the past due to traffic congestion and lack of parking.

“With LRT3, people can park somewhere else, take the train into Klang, shop, and go back. It will be more convenient,” he added. - FMT