Major facelift for Puduraya bus terminal

THE 30-year-old Puduraya bus terminal in Kuala Lumpur infamous for congestion, pollution and crime will soon be losing its seedy image once it undergoes a facelift that will see it transformed into a modern inner-city terminal with contemporary design and first- class facilities.

The facelift, which is estimated to cost RM31mil, with a government funding of RM25mil is aimed at providing travellers and visitors a more conducive and comfortable environment, UDA Holdings managing director Datuk Jaafar Abu Hassan said.

The major upgrade and facelift will include three phases — short, medium and long term that will start immediately and is expected to be completed in November next year.

Modern: The waiting area will have small kiosks for the traders in Puduraya.

Upon completion, travellers can expect to see several posh waiting areas with better ventilation and brighter lighting and newer toilets within the building.

“Our short-term plans include upgrading the fire-fighting systems, building a sheltered pedestrian walkway from Puduraya to the Plaza Rakyat Star LRT station, upgrading of the toilets and the waiting areas at the mezzanine floor and setting up a taxi coupon system to curb touting,’’ Jaafar said, adding that for this the company has allocated RM5.3mil.

The medium phase will see the lifts upgraded, the construction of tickets counters at Level 1, construction of a food court at Level 4, which is now operating as a car park and replacing the exhaust fans at basement level.

Long-ter m plans will see the upgrading of the various waiting areas located at Level 1, mezzanine floor.

Ten escalators will be added, as well as lifts for the public and cargo to increase passenger mobility and curb congestion.

To be ugraded: The fourth floor that is currently a carpark will be converted to a food court.

UDA Holdings will also be taking over the management of Hotel Puduraya, which will also be upgraded eventually.

Apart from the modern facade, traders operating at the terminal will eventually have to be relocated to a more modernised kiosk-like setting.

When asked if there would be an increase in rental rates, Jaafar said: “We will look into the needs of the current traders who are renting there.

“While I cannot say much about that now, rental will be staggered,’’ he said.

Jaafar added that UDA Holdings would be working together with the Federal Territories Ministry, the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board under the Prime Minister’s Department and the Finance Ministry to tackle the problems relating to the city’s oldest bus terminal.

He added that after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s walkabout session in April, the Puduraya area was identified as a major source of the daily massive traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur and that immediate steps were needed to improve the situation.