Business

Friday July 3, 2009

UDA in RM31mil refurbishment of Puduraya


KUALA LUMPUR: UDA Holdings Bhd is targeting to finish refurbishing its Puduraya Bus Terminal by end November next year.

Managing director Datuk Jaafar Abu Hassan said the RM31mil exercise was divided into three phases, with the first phase already ongoing at a cost of RM5.3mil.

“We got a RM25mil injection from the Finance Ministry for this refurbishment and the balance comes from us.

“When completed, Puduraya Bus Terminal will become more modern and offer more conveniences to cater to the growing traffic,” he told a media briefing yesterday.

Jaafar said the first phase involved, among others, upgrading the fire prevention system, changing the chillers for a cooler environment, developing a pedestrian walk between the terminal to Star LRT station, as well as painting and upgrading the restrooms.

“We are also putting escalators, building new food courts and refurbishing the whole basement where the buses stop to drop off and pick up passengers,” he said.

Jaafar said RM11mil was spent to modernise the terminal three years ago but because of the increase in traffic, the upgrading exercise was not very evident.

“This will be a major refurbishment for the terminal and we also plan to have e-ticketing system for the convenience of the commuters.

“However, the approval for e-ticketing comes under the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board. If this can be done, then we can reduce the number of ticket counters,” he said.

He added that currently, about 100 ticket counters were operating in the terminal.

Jaafar also said that upon completion of the refurbishment, UDA would discuss the issue of rental hike with existing tenants to find the best solutions.

“We need to listen to the voices of the tenants. If the rental hike is implemented, it will be done in a staggered manner and not a sudden increase,” he said.

He added that by doing this, UDA might be looking at more than six years to recoup its investment in Puduraya Bus Terminal.

Jaafar also said that by January, UDA would be taking over the operation of Pudu Hotel from the current operator and would refurbish it.

He said the refurbishment of Puduraya Bus Terminal was to cater to the current conditions although the Government planned to turn the inter-state facility into an inner-city terminal.

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