Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) is making significant strides in the development of the MRT3 Circle Line project, with the land acquisition process expected to conclude within two years. MRT Corp CEO Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim shared these insights with the media during the unveiling of the TTDI-Deloitte MRT Station.
Zarif highlighted the extensive land acquisition currently underway, involving over 1,000 lots, predominantly private, signaling a substantial phase in the project’s progression. While the MRT3 tender process is yet to be determined, it will be contingent upon government directives.
The MRT3 Circle Line, often referred to as the final piece of the Klang Valley MRT network, aims to interconnect various mass rapid and light rail transits (LRTs) within the national conurbation, thereby establishing an integrated network. The planned alignment of the MRT3 will encircle the city of Kuala Lumpur, linking existing MRT, LRT, KTM Komuter, and KL Monorail lines through 10 interchange stations.
In tandem with infrastructure development, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook shed light on the innovative station naming rights programme initiated by MRT Corp. This programme, a first in Southeast Asia, is designed to alleviate the government’s financial burden in maintaining MRT infrastructure by engaging more private-sector participation.
Corporations acquiring naming rights will assume responsibility for the upkeep of the corresponding station, encompassing infrastructure maintenance and cleanliness. “This arrangement allows corporations, especially those headquartered near the station, to not only enhance their corporate identity but also contribute to the upkeep of public infrastructure,” Loke explained.
Launched in 2017, the programme has successfully branded eight stations, with five on the Kajang Line and the rest on the MRT Putrajaya Line. Stations like TTDI-Deloitte and Pavilion Damansara Heights-Pusat Bandar Damansara bear testament to the programme’s success, aligning corporate identities with public spaces.
While specific revenue details from this programme remain undisclosed due to confidentiality agreements, the initiative represents a pioneering approach in public-private collaboration in the region.
With the next steps in the MRT3 project eagerly anticipated, stakeholders and the public alike look forward to further developments and the eventual completion of this transformative urban transit project.
