Did you know that Malaysia ranks third in the world for car ownership? While 47% of Filipino households and 46% of Indonesian households don’t own a car, 93% of Malaysian households have at least one car!
Public transportation in Malaysia today consist mainly of buses, LRT (Light Rapid Transit), MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), KL Monorail, KTM Komuter, and ERL (Express Rail Link).
And unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the upcoming MRT3 line. Here’s what you need to know about the latest MRT route in Malaysia.
A Recap On MRT1 And MRT2
Before we touch on the MRT3 route, let’s get familiar with the current MRT routes in Malaysia now: MRT1 and MRT2.
MRT1 – Kajang Line
The trusty MRT1 line, otherwise known as the Kajang Line (formerly known as the Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line), traces 46km from Sungai Buloh to Kajang.
Upon completion of MRT2, the Sungai Buloh and Kampung Selamat stations will be transferred and placed under the MRT2 line.
With 36 stations in total, the MRT1 line serves areas such as Kota Damansara, Mutiara Damansara, Bandar Utama, TTDI, KLCC, and Cheras.
Want to find out the top property hotspots near the MRT1? We’ve got you. Read our Part 1 and Part 2 guides, where we’ve broken down the best areas to live nearby the MRT stations!
MRT2 – Kajang Line
The upcoming MRT2 line is also known as the Putrajaya Line (formerly known as the Serdang-Sungai Buloh-Putrajaya or SSP Line).
This line in particular aims to serve high-density neighbourhoods, stretching 57.7km from Kwasa Damansara in Kuala Lumpur all the way to Putrajaya.
Out of the 35 stations in total, 11 are set to be interchange stations. Kwasa Damansara will be the terminal station which connects MRT2 directly to the MRT1 line.
Come Phase 2, the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) Station will also serve as an interchange station between the two.
Areas which will benefit from the MRT2 line include Sungai Buloh, Sri Damansara, Kepong, Sentul, KLCC, Kuchai Lama, Sungai Besi, Serdang, Cyberjaya, and Putrajaya.
Phase 1 – spanning from Kwasa Damansara to Kampung Batu – is slated to open to the public in 2022, with Phase 2 set to follow suit by around 2024.
What’s The Latest News On The MRT3 Line?
All three MRT lines are part of the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) Project, established with the goal to transform accessibility within the Greater Klang Valley.
The MRT3 will be the finishing touch – essentially linking the two current lines into one giant loop around the Greater Klang Valley – hence its name Circle Line.
The line is expected to span 50km (40% of which will be underground), with 30 stations and 10 interchanges in total.
Note that the stations are not final and are still subject to change. The line will serve currently underserved areas such as Sri Hartamas, Mont Kiara, Sentul, and Cheras among others.
The road (or should we say railway!) for the MRT3 hasn’t been a smooth one however. Here’s a quick summary of the MRT3 saga so far:
- Nov 2017: Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd opens tender for the MRT3 construction and financing.
- May 2018: After Pakatan Harapan won the general election, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announces that the project will be shelved due to the country’s mounting debts at the time.
- May 2019: The MRT3 line is revived again with a lower price tag of approximately RM30 billion, RM15 billion less than the initial price tag. This follows a proposal by MMC Corporation Bhd and Gamuda Bhd which proposes for construction to be carried out in five different phases.
- (LATEST) 13 April 2021: The MRT3 Circle Line project is officially re-announced by the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) in a session entitled ‘Insights: MRT3 Circle Line’.
Construction for this mega project is planned to commence in 2022, with all phases estimated to complete sometime around 2030.
Transit-Oriented Developments And The MRT3
This new mega MRT project is set to provide more economic benefits other than just transportation for the rakyat. Other than passengers, the MRT 3 will also carry goods to support the supply chain.
In a session by MRT Corp held on 13 April 2021, MRT Corp Chief Executive Officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim announced that the new line will also support development of affordable housing via Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs).
This will serve to further ease traffic congestion, encourage homeownership and spur economic growth. Now, TODs aren’t a new term.
Today, we see more and more residential projects like Aster Residence built adjacent to public transport – and often integrated with retail components too, for hyper-convenience.
Five Affordable Developments Nearby The MRT3 Line
Many Malaysians will probably be keen to get ahead and start investing in developments nearby the new MRT3 route.
While it’s still a little too soon to tell – given that the list of stations are still subject to change – below are five affordable developments around RM300,000 within walking distance to the upcoming MRT3 stations.
1) Astrum Ampang
- Property Type: SoHo Studio Apartments
- Built-ups: 280 sq ft
- Price: From RM230,000
- Completion year: 2025
It doesn’t get much better than Astrum Ampang. Want to enjoy smart home facilities under RM300,000? This upcoming SoHo will be equipped with smart technology like public wifi, community apps and a smart gym with virtual classes.
Residents here will be able to walk just 150m to the Jelatek LRT station via a direct access link bridge. The immediate station after it is Setiawangsa, which is a proposed key interchange station to the MRT3 line.
2) Axis Residence
- Property Type: Duplex Condominium
- Built-ups: 890 sq ft – 1,210 sq ft
- Price: From RM245,000
- Completion year: 2010
Axis Residence is a leasehold condominium in Ampang. For working individuals in the area who primarily commute via public transport, this property might be right up your alley.
This project is the residential component of Axis Pandan, a mixed development which also includes Fiesta Mall and Axis Crown.
Not only are your grocery and F&B needs mere footsteps away, you can also walk directly to the Pandan Indah LRT station, which is proposed to interchange with the 15th station in the MRT3 line.
3) Kuchai East
- Property Type: Serviced Residences
- Built-ups: 568 sq ft – 1,066 sq ft
- Price: From RM370,000
- Completion year: 2022
Kuchai East is an upcoming 47-floor luxury serviced residence in Kuchai Lama. The development adopts a yacht-inspired concept with a wealth of rooftop facilities. Think SkyBar, Captain’s Lounge, Outdoor Movie Screen, and more!
This project is situated right between the upcoming Taman Naga Emas and Kuchai station on the MR2 line, the latter which is proposed to be an interchange station to the MRT3 line.
4) Arte @ Mont Kiara
- Property Type: Serviced Residences
- Built-ups: 422 sq ft – 1,142 sq ft
- Price: From RM340,000
- Completion year: 2020
Arte Kuchai Lama, Arte Plus @ Jalan Ampang, Arte Subang West, Arte Cheras and now Arte Mont Kiara – this series of quirky, out-of-the-box projects by Arte Corp (formerly known as Nusmetro Development) is rising fast in the property scene.
The upcoming Arte in Mont Kiara will stand out, not only for it’s swirly facade, but also for its direct access to the Mont Kiara MRT3 station via a link bridge.
5) Cubic Botanical
- Property Type: Serviced Residences
- Built-ups: 518 sq ft – 2422 sq ft
- Price: From RM373,000
- Completion year: 2022
Cubic Botanical in Bangsar South has more than its luxury garden theme appeal going for it. The project will also be within 300m walking distance to the Pantai Dalam KTM station, which is expected to serve as the interchange station to MRT3 Pantai Dalam.
Connectivity-wise, it also enjoys a prime address just 10 minutes away from Mid Valley, The Gardens Mall and KL Sentral. From individuals to families alike, Cubic Botanical offers a wide range of built-ups including dual-key and penthouse units.
More Than Just Convenience
If you’ve never had a car or motorcycle to rely on, you’d know how crucial a well-connected public transportation system is.
It’s more than a convenience issue too – quality and accessibility of public transportation are also one of the key indicators for quality of life.
A New York study measuring the benefits of living in Transit-Oriented Developments found some interesting insights.
For one, residents living nearer to public transportation are more likely to report that they live in a good neighbourhood. They also tend to feel more connected to their community!
So if all the above is something that you’d want for you and your loved ones, don’t forget to check out the various TODs in Malaysia, and ask for the experts’ opinions if you ever become confused!
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