Menteri Besar Johor, Datuk Ir. Hasni Mohammad has officiated the pilot testing for the Iskandar Malaysia Bus Rapid Transit (IMBRT) system.
The system started its pilot project to test the capabilities of the buses as well as the use of green technology in line with the modernisation of the public transport system in Johor.
His arrival was welcomed by Chairman of the Johor State Public Works, Transportation, and Infrastructure Committee, Mohd Solihan Badri, and Chief Executive of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Datuk Ismail Ibrahim.
Three types of buses
Datuk Ir. Hasni Mohammad officiating the pilot test project before inspecting the scale model of the IMBRT station and visiting three types of buses considered for the feeder, direct and main routes from a total of nine other green technology buses that will be tested for the IMBRT project.
He then boarded the high-capacity bus that passed through Persiaran Puteri Selatan, Jalan Laksamana 1, Jalan Laksamana 2 and Persiaran Dato’ Seri Amar before returning to the starting point.
The pilot testing will run for three months using electric and biodiesel-based green technology buses from nine local and international bus suppliers.
Safety first
IRDA and related agencies will also conduct assessments, collect feedback on the effectiveness and safety of the buses as well as obtain approval for its actual use in the future.
In his speech, Datuk Ir. Hasni Mohammad said the BRT project is important to increase the mobility of the people in the state.
“This service will ensure an efficient, convenient and environmentally-friendly public transportation system, covering a wide range of areas.”
“I am confident that it will be a catalyst for development, not only for the Iskandar Malaysia area, but for the entire state of Johor,” he added.
Attracting investors
IRDA Chief Executive, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim stressed that an efficient and integrated public transport infrastructure is important to attract foreign and domestic investments, thus increasing the attractiveness of the development corridor.
“This IMBRT project is expected to create up to 35,000 jobs and increase Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Johor,” he added.
The project has identified feeder, direct, and main routes that reach 2,043 kilometers or about 90 per cent of the populated areas in Iskandar Malaysia.
When fully implemented, the IMBRT will be able to connect 55 feeder routes and 44 direct routes with the main route covering 33 stations.
More information on the project can be found via official social media channels of Iskandar Malaysia Bus Rapid Transit (IMBRT).
