Allocation sought to promote public transport

State government wants buses, trains to be main mode of travel

DURING the tabling of its 2024 budget later this month, the Johor government will be looking to promote the use of public transportation in the state.

State works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said the government had inserted “strengthening connectivity through public transportation” in its Johor Budget 2024 agenda.

“The Johor government wants to encourage the people to make full use of public transportation, which is why we are focusing on promoting it.

“At the state level, we welcome transportation projects from the Federal Government such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Rapid Transit System (RTS) linking Johor Baru and Singapore as well as suggestions on having the Light Rail Transit (LRT) here,” he said.

Mohamad Fazli, who is also the Bukit Pasir assemblyman, said the state government was expected to allocate funds to help support federal transportation projects that were underway in Johor.

“We will come up with an allocation from the upcoming state budget as our objective is to make public transportation the main mode of travel in Johor,” he said.

On Oct 20, Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said Johor Budget 2024 was expected to be tabled on Nov 23.

The RTS Link, which connects Bukit Chagar in Johor and Woodlands North in Singapore, is on track to be completed by the end of 2026 and expected to be operational on Jan 1, 2027.

Besides RTS and BRT, other ongoing transportation projects in the state include the Gemas-Johor Baru Electrified Double Track, which is expected to be up and running in 2025.

The construction of the double-track electric rail line from Gemas in Negri Sembilan to Johor Baru is the final component of the Electrified Double-Tracking project.

The estimated cost of the 192km stretch of tracks from Gemas to Johor Baru is RM8.9bil.

Once completed, trains will cover the KL Sentral-JB Sentral route in three hours and 30 minutes at a speed of 140kph.