KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Territories Ministry will meet with relevant stakeholders next week to decide on whether to close the 1km stretch on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR) to traffic, with the final decision set to be announced on March 15.
Its Minister Khalid Abdul Samad said studies on the matter were still underway to resolve the issue that was reportedly escalated by City Hall (DBKL) to address the ongoing traffic woes in front of SOGO shopping complex.
“We will meet with representatives from Persatuan Peruncit Jalan Batu (BARA) and Persatuan Perniagaan Jalan Masjid India (MIBA) next week.
“We will make the announcement on Jalan TAR after that, as promised, before March 15.
“We are still processing a lot of information and feedback. There are those who are for it, and other who are against it. We will try to find the best solution,” he said.
He said this after officiating the new GoKL free bus service route along the Titiwangsa-Mindef Hub here, today.
The 10.4km route begins from the Titiwangsa hub (Pekeliling Stop) through Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, Jalan Padang Tembak, Jalan Bukit Keramat, Persiaran Gurney, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz and Jalan Pahang.
Khalid said the government planned to turn Kuala Lumpur into a pedestrian-friendly city with facilities along its river banks under the River Of Life initiative.
He said the government is committed to making River of Life a success as it involved investments costing billions of ringgit.
“We want to make our plan a reality. Everything that we have planned and executed so far are related to River Of Life which we already rolled out.
“Our decisions were not made at random, but followed a detailed plan. Following reviews, we agree that it (Jalan TAR closure) needs to be carried out,” he said.
The polemic on the proposal to pedestrianise Jalan TAR went into overdrive following its announcement recently as many traders regarded the move as unpractical.
The closing of the 1km stretch was seen as a precursor to the Ramadan bazaar and was aimed at providing easy access to pedestrians.
However, traders along Jalan TAR had objected to the proposal and planned to hold a protest on March 15.