Work on last stretch of drain to begin

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THE last stretch of a 870m-long main drain constructed by the developer of The Paradigm is scheduled to begin on Sept 22.

It must be one of the most challenging stretches of the drainage project as it is near an area that has been in dispute for an impending development – the FAS (Football Association of Selangor) field in Kelana Jaya – which residents feel will aggravate the area’s traffic problem.

The drain construction will be carried out at the junction of Jalan SS25/3A and the road leading to the FAS tunnel. Traffic diversion is required and there will be a one-day trial run on Sept 11.

Work in progress: Traffic diversion is required to facilitate drain work carried out by developer of The Paradigm in Kelana Jaya.

Motorists heading towards the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) from Taman Megah Mas and Ara Damansara via the congested Megah Mas tunnel will need to take a detour through the Megah Mas industrial area in Jalan SS25/34 and Jalan 25/41.

Motorists heading towards Ara Damansara from LDP can still use the FAS tunnel but are advised against using Megah Mas tunnel to reduce congestion in the housing estate.

Worries abound that the diversion will further choke the stretch between the Megah Mas tunnel and LDP, which is congested during peak hours.

But a spokesman for the developer said the company had held briefings and discussions with residents of Taman Megah Mas, Taman Mayang, Sri Mayang Apartment, Megah Mas Apartment and Mayang Court Apartment between May 30 and Sept 3 about the drain work and traffic diversion.

“They have agreed to the diversion,” he said when interviewed at the company’s headquarters in Klang.

According to him, the main drain measuring 3.5m x 4m stretches from the Paradigm site to Sungai Kayu Ara. Approval for construction was issued in November 2007.

“The main drain is part of MBPJ’s mitigation plan to solve the flooding problem in Taman Kelana Indah and Kelana Square. It is aligned from the Kelana Jaya Recreation Pond at Kelana Stadium along Jalan SS7/19, Taman Kelana Indah, Yayasan FAS, Megah Mas industrial lots to Sungai Kayu Ara,” he said, adding that construction began in April 2008.

MBPJ had instructed the developer to bear the construction cost of RM7mil.

However, the developer argued that its project would only take up to 6% of the catchment area and was therefore lobbying with the council to also share the construction cost with other developers in the area.

He highlighted that as per residents’ request, traffic diversion facilitating the work was initially planned to start concurrently with the closure of Megah Mas tunnel, which would be required for upgrading work carried out by MBPJ.

The tunnel is to be upgraded to a one-way single-lane carriageway equipped with a pedestrian walkway.

Work in progress: Traffic diversion is required to facilitate drain work carried out by developer of The Paradigm in Kelana Jaya.

“As of now, MBPJ has not confirmed when the work will start but we need to do ours first so that it can be completed before the monsoon season. The council gave us the green light on this.

“We hope to complete the main drain by Oct 31, so we need to start by the end of this month or earlier if permitted,” he said.

When asked about the impact of The Paradigm project on the area’s traffic, especially when LDP was already filled to the brim with vehicles every day, he said the developer had had several meetings with the relevant residents associations and had obtained the nod for the traffic dispersal system it proposed.

He said the road and drainage plans had been approved by both the Malaysian Highway Authority and the Petaling Jaya City Council.

“A more detailed plan incorporating amendments as requested by the residents had also been submitted for approval,” he said, adding that the developer had kept an amicable relationship with the residents.

According to a real estate portal, The Paradigm PJ along the LDP “is to be the equivalent to Mid Valley Megamall along the Federal High­way; a luxurious convergence of business, retail and entertainment”.

It is a commercial development comprising three office towers and a shopping centre on a 5ha land.