Come 2017, you may have to pay extra to enter certain areas in Kuala Lumpur during peak hours because Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is planning to impose road pricing or congestion charges for private vehicles
**City mayor Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz said this is to encourage the use of public transportation.**
"(It may be implemented) after the completion of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT Line 1)."
The plan is similar to what is being implemented in several world class cities such as Singapore, London, Milan and Stockholm, where private vehicles pay a hefty fee if they want to enter certain areas during peak hours.
That is not all. Buckle up and prepare to spend more time circling around to find a parking space because DBKL is also planning to reduce the number of parking lots in the city to ease traffic.
The number of parking bays in the city is to be reduced to lessen traffic congestion.
**Deputy Federal Territories Minister Dr Loga Bala Mohan said the idea was to reduce cars on the road and encourage people to use public transport.**
"We are studying this plan and will implement it after the completion of (Line 1 of the) Mass Rapid Transit project in 2017," he told reporters after opening the seventh International Conference on World Class Sustainable Cities 2015.
Loga said the plan also included imposing higher parking charges and higher development costs for parking bays.
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Deputy Federal Territories Minister Dr Loga Bala Mohan
Does the plan sound familiar? If yes, it's because former KL city mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Phesal Talib had said that DBKL would reduce the number of parking lots… at the same conference two years ago!
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said this during the 5th International Conference on World-Class Sustainable Cities 2013 (WCSC 2013) held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
Ahmad Phesal said more attention should be given to upgrading existing public transport services as reducing traffic congestion in the city would contribute to improving the economic well-being of the nation and people.
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Earlier this year, the first bicycle path in the KL city was laid open for public use:
Cover image via SAYS
