Puduraya reopens on 16 April (Update #5)

• Update: David Goh explains in this letter why he was not happy with some aspects of the reopened Puduraya!
  
• Update: This article in The Star describes some of the issues at the reopened Puduraya – of course most passengers are very happy with the new facilities – it is the communication issues that need to be managed!
  
• Update: Bukit Jalil temporary terminal is now closed – please go to Puduraya or Terminal Bersepadu Selatan for your regular bus trips!
  
• Update: Check out these photos of Puduraya from mypublictransport.com, another public transport blogger in Malaysia!
• Update: Puduraya has reopened. Read the article, Puduraya terminal operational, in Bernama!

TRANSIT took note of this article confirming that Puduraya is ready to reopen to “intercity buses” and “northbound express buses” on 16 April 2011. We chose this article because it gives some good details about the layout of Puduraya – a way to help inform the public.

Puduraya reopens tomorrow (NST, 14 April 2011)

KUALA LUMPUR: The 36-year-old Puduraya bus terminal will reopen as scheduled tomorrow.

The upgrading work which took 12 months are virtually complete. Only minor installation work such as placement of sign boards and fitting in the ramps remain.

UDA Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Jaafar Abu Hassan said the bus terminal would cater to north-bound express buses and also serve as the hub for inter-city buses.

There are a total of 1,292 seats in the waiting areas on the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor. The 22 auto-gate system platforms are on the ground floor. There is a baby changing room, toilets for the disabled and 80 retail outlets.

The ticket counters are located at zones A and B on the first floor. This floor is also equipped with information display monitors. The information counter is located in the central area. At the second floor there is a locker area, lobby, and a surau.

The third floor remains as a public parking area. The food court is on the fourth floor with 46 stalls and seating for 600 people.

Jaafar said more than 70 bus operators will be operating at the terminal, sharing 50 ticket counters.

“We have reduced the number by half so that the passengers can purchase their bus tickets smoothly. Furthermore, we are moving towards online ticket purchases or e-ticketing which will be in operation latest by June.”

With the e-ticketing system in place, passengers can buy bus tickets ahead of time and collect them at the counter.

Jaafar said the operation team was carrying out trial runs on the bus operation and traffic dispersal system in Jalan Puduraya.

“Buses are only allowed to wait for passengers at the platform bays for 20 minutes,” he said.

He added that after dropping passengers, the express buses will stop at the bus depot near the Bukit Aman police headquarters where there are 120 parking bays, before their next scheduled trip.

He said Uda would be taking over the management of the Puduraya Hotel which will be renamed AnCasa Express hotel, after refurbishment work is completed in June.

For tout control, Jaafar said the Road Transport Department would set up an office at the terminal to monitor the illegal activity.

Jaafar said the rental for the outlets had been increased.

“Previously, the rental for the retail and kiosk outlets were between RM800 and 1,500. The new rental is between RM1,000 and RM2,300 depending on the size of the units.

“The new rental fee for the food court will be between RM4,000 to RM5,000 per lot per month. Previously it was around RM2,000.”

He said all the retail outlet and kiosk operators had received their keys and were ready to open.

The Duta bus terminal, which caters for north-bound buses, will remain open, he said

TRANSIT Says:

We are happy to know that the long-awaited reopening of Puduraya terminal is close at hand.

We’ll leave our comments at that – except to say that the transformation of Puduraya into a clean, bright, air conditioned facility was  an excellent opportunity to have great public relations and create excitement about public transport in Malaysia.

Sadly, this opportunity was totally missed by UDA holdings – which is to their loss.

As you know, TRANSIT is also hoping that SPAD will make its presence felt at the new terminal. The comments in the newspapers are bold, but only actions will lead to results.

That said, TRANSIT will be at Puduraya on 16 April for a quiet visit and we encourage those who can go there to visit and tell us what they think.