JOHOR BARU: Putrajaya has approved the state government's proposal to introduce a third pedestrian route to the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) on a two-month trial period.
The third route near the Hako Hotel along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam, here, provides direct access to the CIQ.
State Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said the third route was among the initiatives raised during a meeting with the federal government's Traffic Congestion and Road Safety Committee, recently.
"The third route proposal has been given the green light, and it will be implemented on a two-month trial, to establish if it would ease foot-flow towards the CIQ," he said, adding if it works, a proposal will be resubmitted to make it a permanent feature.
Pedestrians are currently accessing the CIQ BSI via Jalan Jim Quee and Jalan Tun Razak.
The proposed shortcut would be the first direct pedestrian route to the complex, bypassing JB Sentral.
The trial run is slated to commence in the upcoming weeks, pending final approval from Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
Mohamad Fazli said a preparation period between two and three weeks is required prior to the trial run, while an official announcement is expected at the outset.
The preparation period is needed for several safety measures to be added for the security and safety of pedestrians including reducing vehicle speed limits, synchronising traffic lights and installing pedestrian crossings.
The unauthorised Hotel Hako shortcut saw some 10,000 pedestrians using the route prior to it being closed due to safety and security reasons.
Pedestrians took to their social media platforms and tagged the menteri besar, calling for the shortcut to be reopened.