The construction of the RM38mil Ipoh Integrated Bus Terminal and Complex in Bandar Meru Raya near Jelapang is almost done and would be in time for operations in June.
Perak executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the project is about 80% done and is expected to be completed in April.
“We are very excited that the project is almost done.
“It will be fully operational in June like we anticipated,” he told The Star.
The three-storey terminal and complex by Combined Bus Services Sdn Bhd (CBSB) is built on a 3.4ha plot of land in Bandar Meru Raya.
The project, which began in 2010, would consist of a business centre, food court, basement car park and petrol kiosk.
It would serve as an inter-city bus terminal to be connected to the Ipoh central bus station via shuttle bus service.
Dr Mah said that CBSB had replaced 100 old buses with new air-conditioned ones last year.
The remaining 150 old buses would be phased out by year-end, he added.
College student Law Pei Yee, 20, said the terminal would help ease traffic congestion along Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, in which the existing Medan Gopeng inter-city bus station was situated.
Law, who travels frequently on buses between Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur, said with fewer buses plying Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, motorists would have a smoother journey.
“The traffic jam there is horrible, especially during peak period between 5pm and 6pm.
“It is common for me to return home late because of the traffic,” she added.
Law, from Tasek, said she was looking forward to seeing the terminal up and running.
“I hear that it will be a big and beautiful place. I hope to see it in operation soon,” she added.
Kaye Yeap, 30, from Taman Cempaka, however, was not receptive to the complex as it was not built within the city.
“Jelapang is quite far from the city and it will be a hassle for a lot of passengers.
“There are those who stay nearer to the city area and their friends or family members will need to drive all the way to the terminal to pick them up,” said Yeap, a purchaser who works in Penang.
She added that taking a taxi to the city would also be expensive.
-Thestar
