Those who have been to Bukit Bintang know how crowded the area can be, especially during peak hours. Unfortunately, it seems the issue has limited solutions, which is why authorities are looking to close off a key section of Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle.
According to news reports, local authorities are considering closing a section of Jalan Bukit Bintang in an effort to ease traffic in the area. Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa spoke more about this plan in an interview with Buletin TV3. During the interview, he said discussions and further research with the related parties are underway to evaluate the feasibility of rerouting and restricting vehicles from the area.
Datuk Rusdi said that the plans to close off the area to vehicles could help create a pedestrian-friendly zone in addition to easing congestion. However, the police chief said a lot of factors had to be considered before a road closure could happen, namely the surrounding hotels and residential areas. In the meantime, authorities are looking to increase the use of AI-powered closed-circuit television (CCTV) to monitor the city centre and enforce traffic laws.
During the interview, Datuk Rusdi also noted several causes of congestion in the area, including ignorant drivers illegally parking their vehicles, pedestrians crossing at unauthorised points and taxis and e-hailing drivers stopping at the side of the road to pick up or drop off passengers. Street performers also contribute to the congestion as they can attract large crowds.
Discussions on the issue are ongoing – but what are your thoughts on this? Do you think closing off Jalan Bukit Bintang to vehicles could ease traffic congestion? Or will it affect the traffic in the surrounding areas?
Watch Buletin TV3’s report below:
Sources: Facebook, PaulTan.org
