KUALA LUMPUR: If all goes according to plan, Kuala Lumpur City Hall will make the 1km-long closure
in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman a permanent or semi-permanent fixture after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
City Hall executive director (project management) Datuk Mohd Najib Mohd said the authorities expected the people to go against the plan, at least until they could learn about the closure’s benefits.
He did not elaborate on whether it would be a permanent closure, as first envisioned, or if it would be enforced only on weekends.
Najib said City Hall’s closure of Jalan Hang Kasturi in 2011 and Jalan Medan Pasar some years before was well received by the public due to links to light rapid transit stations via walkways.
He said the move not only reinvigorated Pasar Seni as the connectivity proved that residents here were open to the idea of walking.
Najib said a study in the 1980s found that all main roads in the city were pedestrian friendly.
“Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR) was the main artery and we saw it as vital shopping area, so we commissioned architect Kenzo Tange to come up with a plan.
“This was long overdue and having it come into effect under the River of Life (RoL) project enhances the RoL’s success story,” he told the New Straits Times.
He said based on previous models, the closure of the street would boost trade.
“The more people walk, the more they will see things and engage traders. If you let cars come in, this will be lost.
“So we are bringing it back to 100 years ago, before vehicles came to Kuala Lumpur.
“People can go back to basics and enjoy a safer shopping experience. As Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidlifitri draw near, people will flock to the area,” he said, adding that the area was served by four train stations and buses.
Najib said the aim under RoL was to put Jalan TAR on a par with roads like Oxford Street in London while relegating private vehicles to peripheral roads.
“Jalan TAR is a bypass from Sultan Ismail to Jalan Raja, and Kuala Lumpur is a compact city. Soon they will see it our way.”
Najib said Jalan TAR catered to 1,800 vehicles during peak hours, 600 to 800 vehicles more than its load capacity.
On the backlash it received over plans to close the road for several months before reviewing its decision, he said Jalan TAR was not even serving its original function as a convenient artery with one lane of the road clogged with illegally parked vehicles.
“Illegal parking contributes to traffic congestion. In any other city, you can see what happens within the first two to four minutes of this... we have been complacent and tolerant for so long.
“People have to stop habits like parking in front of their favourite restaurant. This is not city living.”
Najib said Jalan TAR’s success would push for the pedestrianisation of roads in Bukit Bintang, Petaling Street and Brickfields.
The decision to move or drop any form of permanent closure in Jalan TAR was, however, up to Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad.
Najib said City Hall would send Khalid a weekly report on the weekend closures based on ground surveys, as well as studies conducted by its technical department and consultants.
City Hall senior deputy director (civil engineering and urban transport) Sabudin Mohd Salleh said Kuala Lumpur was choked with traffic.
He said three million cars used the roads daily.
“It’s critical for roads that flow into thoroughfares in the city like Jalan Tun Razak.”
Sabudin said he preferred City Hall to stick to its guns and
enforce the closure to reduce congestion and carbon emissions.
“People will get used to things. If we entertain each one of them, our consultation sessions will be like those in Western countries and it will take eight years to implement small projects.”
City Hall recently held a coordination meeting with police and four bus companies to ensure that the closure was carried out as planned.
The closure will start at 8am today and last 40 hours.