SHAH ALAM, July 1 — The Shah Alam Line of the Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3), which officially commenced operations on Monday (June 29), is expected to serve as a catalyst for economic growth and social development in Selangor.
Former Universiti Malaya Faculty of Economics and Administration associate professor Kuppusamy Singaraveloo said the public transport network would stimulate economic activity, particularly in areas surrounding LRT stations.
The opening of the LRT3 is expected to attract greater investment and encourage the establishment of various businesses, including retail shops, shopping centres, supermarkets, and food outlets.
“With the LRT3 in operation, areas surrounding the stations will become vibrant with business activity. New retail shops, modern shopping malls, supermarkets, and eateries will begin to open, giving a significant boost to the local economy,” he told Media Selangor.
Kuppusamy added that the expansion of the business sector would, in turn, create numerous employment opportunities for local residents.
He noted that homebuyers and residents are increasingly inclined to choose locations with convenient access to public transport, which is expected to increase property values near LRT3 stations.
Growing demand for properties in these areas could also lead to higher residential rental rates in the future.
Simiarly, e-hailing services and taxis are expected to benefit as more commuters require transport to and from LRT stations.
“E-hailing and taxi drivers will also see increased demand because people will use Grab or taxis to travel between their homes and the LRT stations,” Kuppusamy said.
Meanwhile, he believes that the LRT3 has the potential to reduce traffic congestion in Selangor and the Klang Valley by 15-20 per cent, while also helping to reduce air pollution by decreasing the number of vehicles on the roads.
However, Kuppusamy emphasised that the project's overall success would depend on the effectiveness of its first-mile and last-mile connectivity, including the provision of sufficient feeder bus or van services to enable commuters to travel conveniently from their homes to LRT stations and onwards to their destinations.
For the record, Kuppusamy was among the panel of experts involved in the initial planning phase of the LRT3 project.
