KUALA LUMPUR: While ridership on urban rail lines has largely recovered after the lockdowns caused by the pandemic, the Kajang MRT is taking longer than expected to recover.

       This is largely because people are still buying cars, even during the pandemic, says Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp), the MRT system's developer.

       In a media briefing here at the soon-to-be-opened Kampung Batu MRT station, MRT Corp's Putrajaya line project director Datuk Amiruddin Ma'aris said the sale of used cars had soared by 40% while many were willing to wait for months just to get their new cars.

       "Recovery of (rail) ridership will take a while, with car ownership competing with the use of public transport," he said.

       Although the MRT has yet to become popular, ridership on the country's most used metro line – the Kelana Jaya LRT – has hit pre-Covid numbers recently with the relaxation of standard operating procedures as well as the resumption of economic activities in many sectors.

       Amiruddin, who provided a press preview of the 12 stations under Phase 1 of the Putrajaya MRT from Sungai Buloh to Kampung Batu, said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob would open the line on June 16.

       Passenger operations would commence at 3pm the same day.

       The first phase of the line covers Kwasa Damansara, Kampung Selamat, Sungai Buloh, Damansara Damai, Sri Damansara Barat, Sri Damansara Sentral, Sri Damansara Timur, Metro Prima, Kepong Baru, Jinjang, Sri Delima, and Kampung Batu.

       Of these, seven stations would have a combined total of more than 2,800 parking bays.

       The first phase of this line allows passengers to change over to and from KTM stations at Sungai Buloh, Sri Damansara Timur (to Kepong Sentral), and Kampung Batu.

       Thirteen new bus routes would also start operating with the new MRT service, covering areas such as Sutera Damansara, Bandar Sri Damansara, Taman Wangsa Permai, all the way to Taman Kok Doh, among others.

       Amiruddin declined to comment on whether free train rides would be provided in the early days, as was done when the Kajang MRT opened.