Media Release: BUKIT BINTANG PLAZA NOT UNDER ANY THREAT OF COLLAPSE OR DAMAGE Kuala Lumpur, 28 October 2014: Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) refers to the media release by UDA Holdings Bhd, issued on 16th and 27th October, 2014 on the re-development of Bukit Bintang Plaza (BB Plaza) on Jalan Bukit Bintang. In the release, it was stated that BB Plaza was “not very safe for occupation due to underground works for the construction of the MRT”. MRT Corp started the construction of the Bukit Bintang Station since November 2012, which is broken into two main stages. This included the diversion of traffic along the stretch in front of BB Plaza, which however maintained the provision of three lanes along the stretch. Later, two tunnel boring machines (TBM) also tunnelled underneath Jalan Bukit Bintang, and passed through the said stretch in front of BB Plaza in July 2014 and August 2014. Throughout the tunnelling, and the on-going station construction, no buildings along the road were damaged as a direct result of MRT works. Our contractor, MMC Gamuda KVMRT (Tunnelling) Sdn Bhd (MGKT) had taken all necessary steps to monitor ground movements during the activity, to ensure that building and public safety was not compromised. This included installation of monitoring equipment on buildings and structures along Jalan Bukit Bintang, as well as visual monitoring of roads and buildings by engineers. Apart from two sinkholes that appeared in April 2014 at the western end of the very busy road, no other untoward incidents were reported to have occurred as a result of MRT construction there, or along the 9.5km underground alignment of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) Line. We therefore deny that BB Plaza was or is under any threat of collapse or damage due to the construction of the MRT tunnels and station. All other buildings on the surface of where underground works are conducted are also safe. The technology applied for the construction is state-of-the-art, and all necessary precautions were undertaken by MGKT to ensure the safety of buildings and structures along the route. MRT Corp also welcomes the announcement by UDA Holdings that it intends to redevelop the site upon which BB Plaza sits. The development of a new, modern and more comfortable mall next to the Bukit Bintang Station will be an added attraction to both local and foreign tourists alike. Once completed and operational in July 2017, the SBK Line will have the capacity to transport 20,000 passengers per hour per direction. This will enable people to travel to BB Plaza and other attractions in the area using a modern, safe and reliable urban rail system. The SBK line will make KL city more accessible to residents and visitors to the Klang Valley, apart from easing congestion that has choked the capital city’s streets for years.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:50:38 +0000
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