AMPANG, May 12 — Residents and elected representatives are urging for the funding issues involving phase 2 of the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE) project to be resolved immediately to ensure public safety and improve traffic flow around Bukit Antarabangsa and Ukay Perdana.
Bukit Antarabangsa state assemblyman Mohd Kamri Kamaruddin said the delay of the project, which has been stalled since 2015, has caused anxiety among residents, particularly over the risk of landslides and mud floods during the rainy season.
“What worries residents most is the current condition of the slopes, which are now considered risky. I hope this project can be completed soon for the comfort and safety of residents.
“The project was supposed to be completed in 2019, but it has been delayed several times before a new target was set for the end of this year,” he said when met during a working visit to the EKVE phase 2 project site yesterday.
He said the areas of Ukay Perdana and Sierra Ukay were among the worst affected after being hit several times by mud floods, which caused homes to be inundated and damaged property.
Mohd Kamri added that the project is important to improve traffic flow towards the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2), which frequently experiences congestion, especially during peak hours.
Meanwhile, Sierra Ukay Residents Association (SEGORA) deputy chairman Mazhan Mahmood said residents have endured the effects of the project delay for far too long.
“We urge the contractor to speed up the works because this project has been delayed for years. Nearly 10 years of delays have made access routes unsafe, and residents become traumatised every time it rains due to previous flash floods,” he said.
He said about 284 houses in Sierra Ukay were directly affected, while around 35,000 residents in Ukay Perdana faced severe congestion when heading towards the MRR2 during peak hours.
Meanwhile, WZR Property Sdn Bhd legal and corporate affairs director Datuk Ahmad Fazli Ahmad Nordin said construction works for EKVE phase 2 were temporarily halted due to cash flow constraints faced by the concession company.
He said the situation also affected subcontractors and suppliers, forcing temporary suspension of works at the site.
“If this funding issue can be resolved quickly by the banks, works can resume at any time. However, the safety, comfort and well-being of residents remain our priority,” he said.
He added that the contractor was prepared to resume works as soon as the financing issue is resolved, while maintaining the year-end project completion target.
EKVE is an orbital highway system in Greater Kuala Lumpur and forms the eastern section of the Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road.
The project comprises 24 kilometres (km) of main highway and 12 km of exit routes. The highway will serve as an alternative route to the MRR2 by providing a shortcut for north-south traffic without entering Kuala Lumpur city centre, thereby reducing congestion.
EKVE is also expected to encourage balanced urbanisation in Greater Kuala Lumpur to sustain rapid growth, support economic growth in Selangor especially in Kajang and Hulu Langat, provide connectivity between urban centres and ensure more equitable income distribution.
