Bus depot to be ready before Hari Raya

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CONTRACTORS hired to build the much awaited bus holding bay in Jalan Hang Tuah, while Puduraya undergoes a face-lift, have been working round the clock to ensure that phase 1 of the bus depot is ready before Hari Raya.

Once Phase 1 is completed, the bus depot will be able to ease the traffic congestion along Jalan Pudu during the festive season as by then over 30 bus bays would be ready to accommodate the buses.

Solution: The bus holding bay will help ease traffic congestion at Puduraya.

When StarMetro visited the project site on Sunday, workers were already laying out the concrete blocks along the pavements for the bays, and site supervisor N.K Kung said 90% of the work had been completed and that they would be able to hand over the site by Wednesday.

Two weeks ago, at a ground-breaking ceremony, Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said the temporary bus depot would help reduce congestion caused by buses parked haphazardly along Jalan Pudu.

“Instead of parking along Jalan Pudu, the buses will be able to wait at the holding bay before proceeding to Puduraya to pick up passengers,” he said.

He said the project was divided into Phase 1 and 2 and expected to be completed by Jan 31, next year.

Painstaking task: A worker laying the concrete blocks at the bus holding bay in Jalan Hang Tuah.

Once completed, the depot will be able to accommodate 135 buses at a time.

Also, the authorities would also be able to ensure only registered buses used the bays, to curb touting.

The area, spanning about 1.9ha, will also have facilities like public toilets, bus washing area, rest area for drivers, prayer rooms, changing rooms and car and motorcycle parking bays.

The project is estimated to cost RM6.2mil.