A 1km stretch of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Jalan TAR) in Kuala Lumpur will be closed to all vehicles except buses beginning March 15, said Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abd Samad.
The closure of the stretch from Jalan Esfahan to Jalan Melayu was to allow the public, especially shoppers, to conveniently carry out their business as they would not have to deal with the constant traffic in the area, he said.
“Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) conducted an online survey on the closure of the road, and the majority of respondents agreed with the proposal.
“We intend to make the route starting from Sogo (shopping complex) to Wisma Bandar to be a vehicle-free road or pedestrian mall where visitors can walk about shopping,” he told a news conference after a Luncheon Talk here on Wednesday (Feb 13) in conjunction with Federal Territory Day.
Khalid said that if things turn out well after the road closure, DBKL was ready to allow bazaar traders who had applied for business licences to operate in the area during the Ramadan period.
He said the entire stretch could accommodate up to 200 lots and could also be used for other festive periods.
Khalid said the move would also safeguard the interests of business owners whose shops at the old site of the Ramadan bazaar were adversely affected.