The Selangor government’s independent evaluation of Kinrara Damansara Expressway (Kidex) suggests traffic figures may have been inflated to support building the elevated highway through densely populated Petaling Jaya.

Bukit Gasing assemblyperson Rajiv Rishyakaran ( right ) in a statement today said the evaluation of Kidex’ impact reports “confirms the highway fails to benefit the residents of Petaling Jaya".

“According to the report, Kidex appears to have inflated the future traffic volume of key roads in Petaling Jaya, such as Jalan Utara, Jalan Timur and Jalan Semangat, ostensibly to justify the proposed construction of the highway to reduce the congestion level of these roads.

 

“Based on the traffic figures provided by Kidex, the independent report also highlighted the fact that the highway will essentially act as a bypass road for vehicles from the north and south of the city instead of being a road to be used by the residents of the city. 

“A road serving as a bypass should be going around Petaling Jaya, instead of cutting through the heart of Petaling Jaya,” said Rajiv.

Residents angered by the federal highway project’s construction snubbed Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives at a rally last Sunday claiming they had not done anything to halt Kidex.

Pakatan PJ Utara MP MP Tony Pua lamented they were not allowed to answer to inaccurate claims about what the elected representatives were doing about the highway project.

Commissioned last Sept

 

The state’s assessment of Kidex’ various reports - including the traffic impact assessment, origin destination survey, cost benefit analysis - was carried out by MDS Traffic Planners and Consultants, who was engaged in September 2014, said Rajiv.

 

“The commissioning of the Independent Professional Evaluation of Kidex by a qualified traffic consultant is proof that the Selangor government has heard the voices of the people and is concerned with the potential impact of the development. 

 

“It also demonstrates that the state have acted impartially to listen to all sides of the story and verify the contradictory claims and allegations objectively, without fear or favour,” he said.

 

“In line with openness and transparency, this report will be uploaded on MBPJ’s website and be made available to all,” added Rajiv.

 

He pointed out that benefiting the PJ residents is one of the preconditions the concessionaire has to meet before the state gives approval for the land use.

 

Other conditions Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali has given include public disclosure of the concessions agreement signed with Putrajaya and toll terms.

 

“The Menteri Besar, in consultation with the Say No To Kidex group in November 2014, has agreed on the deadline of February 15, 2015 to meet these conditions.

 

“As of today, Kidex has not met any of the three conditions to secure consideration for its application. 

 

“In 16 days time, assuming the status quo remains, then I am certain the state government will do the simple thing to reject Kidex's proposal,” said the Bukit Gasing assemblyperson.