THE proposed Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) highway, much objected by residents, is not the reincarnation of the Kinrara Damansara Expressway (Kidex) that was cancelled in 2015, said its concessionaire.

PJD Link CEO Amrish Hari Narayanan said the difference was that the PJD Link was a traffic dispersal system to help Petaling Jaya residents overcome traffic hassles while Kidex offered very little benefit to PJ residents

“Kidex was designed to be a direct link between Damansara and Kinrara in Puchong, effectively bypassing PJ,” Amrish was quoted as saying in FreeMalaysiaToday.

“The PJD Link, on the other hand, is designed to be a traffic dispersal system,” he told FMT in an interview.

The Kidex project failed to get the necessary approvals and was eventually scrapped.

Amrish, a former executive for Kidex, said PJD Link has enough interchanges, ramps and connections that will boost connectivity for PJ residents as they will be able to access more modes of transport servicing Klang Valley.

He said claims that the PJD Link was a “rebranded Kidex” were inaccurate.

Amrish also said PJD Link was designed with the feedback of stakeholders, including residents and property owners in PJ.

In explaining further, Amrish said one of the problems with Kidex was its encroachment into residential and commercial land around what is called the ‘PJ Loop’ in the heart of the city.

“The PJD Link, on the other hand, passes through the PJ Loop via industrial and commercial areas. There will also be an entrance ramp from Jalan Kemajuan, and entrance and exit ramps from and to Federal Highway.”

He said the company was actively engaging residents and stakeholders to explain and provide more details on the PJD Link and clarify any misconceptions that it is similar to Kidex.

PJ residents told The Malaysian Insight last week that authorities should look for a more feasible traffic dispersal scheme.

They reiterated their stand that the PJD Link project be scrapped, especially when they claimed that project consultants had said the highway was similar to the now-cancelled Kidex. – May 12, 2023.