SHAH ALAM, May 15 — The demand-responsive transit (DRT) van service in Lembah Jaya is gaining strong traction among residents, particularly those living in high-rise housing areas such as Pangsapuri Desa Lembah Permai and Taman Nuri Jaya.
Lembah Jaya state assemblyman Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Al-Hadad said the expansion of DRT routes to the end of Jalan Ampang has provided greater convenience for residents, especially those living in flats.
“When they realise the cost is very cheap and affordable, thanks to Allah, usage continues to increase, the response has been very encouraging and the feedback has also been positive,” he said during the SKOP programme produced by Media Selangor.
Apart from easing daily travel, Syed Ahmad said the DRT service has also positively impacted community ties as residents have started sharing rides to work.
“They have groups, for example those going to work at 7 am, where they book together to carpool to work, and that is where we can see the beginnings of closer bonds.
“Sometimes we live close to each other, but we do not know our neighbours, even those living on different floors. But through DRT, those relationships become closer,” he said.
The DRT van service is a state government initiative aimed at improving the effectiveness of public transport while replacing the Smart Selangor Bus service in densely-populated areas where the streets are narrow.
The DRT pilot project, first introduced in 2023, is implemented by Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) (MBI) and regulated by the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC).
Through the Selangor Resilience Strengthening Package, a RM30 monthly public transport incentive is being provided to 50,000 Selangor residents for six months, involving an allocation of RM10.4 million.
The initiative aims to reduce daily travel costs involving services such as DRT vans, transit buses and trains.
