The Star Metro
Home > Metro > CentralThursday March 12, 2009
KL folk happy with pedestrian boostMOST city residents see the pedestrian move as a moral boost and welcomed it with open arms.
“It’s definitely a great step forward as it will not only be convenient for the public to hop from one building to another but is’s also a great way to boost tourism,’’ Sungei Wang Plaza promotions and public relations manager K.K Lim said.
Lim added that Kuala Lumpur was still far behind Bangkok in terms of connectivity.
“The allocation will greatly help elevate the appeal of Bukit Bintang as a tourist hub,’’ said Joyce Yap, president of the Malaysian Association for Shopping and Highrise Complex Management.
Yap, who is also the acting Pavilion Kuala Lumpur CEO, said the project would improve accessibility and connectivity to the golden triangle and will indirectly encourage people to walk.
Bukit Bintang MP Fung Kui Lun said he welcomed the news as it would not only boost tourism but would connect the missing link between Bukit Bintang and the KLCC area.
“It’s great news and definitely good for business,’’ Ancasa Hotel & Spa, Kuala Lumpur public relations manager Melinda Ambrose said.
“We have been hearing about this project for years.
“In fact, there was talk recently that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) planned to build a RM20mil elevated walkway to connect the Menara Maybank, Ancasa Hotel, and the Cahaya Suria Shopping Centre with the Pudu Raya Bus Terminal and Chinatown,’’ Ambrose said.
Istana Hotel director of marketing and communications Hasma Ahmad also agreed that it was a good move.
Peter Tan, who has been using a wheelchair for more than two decades, however, hoped that the walkways and skybridges would be accessible for all.
“There has not been much improvement in facilities for the disabled and we hope that this would change,’’ Tan said.
City resident Shahjehan Safian also added that he was confident the move would help alleviate traffic congestion and also reduce the number of accidents.
