Malaysia Plans To Make KL A Pedestrian-Friendly City Like Singapore And London By 2025
DBKL announced that at least five roads will be pedestrianised by the end of this year.
By May Vin Ang — 10 Feb 2020, 06:03 PM
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) announced that it will limit private vehicle access for 10 roads in the city by 2025 in an attempt to turn them into pedestrian-only streets
The aim is to reduce the number of cars entering and congesting the capital. Over the next five years, several major roads will be closed in stages for a trial run.
In a report published by the New Straits Times yesterday, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan said, "That's our vision for the future of the city. It has been done successfully in Singapore and other countries."
He then drew examples from the semi-pedestrianised Arab Street and Haji Lanes in Singapore, as well as Portobello Road in London.
At least five roads, including Jalan Raja and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR), will be pedestrianised by the end of this year
"We will be revisiting Jalan TAR's trial run that was suspended last year. Our vision is to see it connected to Jalan Raja until the intersection at Leboh Pasar Besar," said Nor Hisham.
According to Malay Mail, DBKL also plans to limit private vehicles in several stretches in Bangsar, Bukit Bintang, and Brickfields to make them more pedestrian-friendly and reduce carbon emissions.
Nor Hisham said that details would be finalised at a later time because studies to assess its implementation are under way
He did not elaborate on whether the closures would involve the entire road or only certain stretches.
It has also yet to be decided if the closures will be permanent or not, or only done on weekends, or a combination of the two.
Pedestrians crossing at the junction of Orchard Link and Orchard Road in Singapore.
Image via Lim Yaohui/The Straits TimesIn the meantime, awareness campaigns and public engagement will be carried out to facilitate the trial run of the closed roads
Nor Hisham added that the plan to close off city roads was necessary to reduce congestion amid the growing number of cars and Kuala Lumpur's daytime population of three million people.
"This year is all about achieving sustainable development goals and improving the quality of life of city folk," he said, adding that the capital was targeting a 70% reduction in carbon emission intensity by 2030.
