With the much anticipated Sg Buloh–Kajang mass rapid transit (MRT) becoming fully operational by July, Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) listed six criteria for liveability, all of which are connected to transportation, reported The Star.
They are sustainability; mobility and connectivity; vibrant economic activities; sustainable transit-oriented developments; safety and security; health, hygiene and cleanliness.
“The lack of any one of these will compromise the standard of liveability,” said MRT Corp strategic communications and stakeholder relations director Datuk Najmuddin Abdullah.
On the criteria for planning a station or route, Najmuddin explained that the choice of alignment requires the balance of various factors, such as “constructability” based on technical factors, cost and journey time, the need to minimise social impact and the need to serve over populated areas.
When asked why the MRT1 route bypassed certain destinations like Universiti Malaya Medical Centre and Universiti Malaya, while Damansara Heights has two stations – Pusat Bandar Damansara and Semantan – Najmuddin noted that the two stations serve “very dense catchment areas that are near but separate from each other”.
With the government addressing the need for urban public transport, attention should also be given to developments encroaching on green spaces.
Datuk Paul Khong, managing director at Savills Malaysia, noted that the rise of “concrete jungles” has resulted to the loss of quality of life as well as wellbeing.
With this, developers such as SP Setia Bhd, Eco World Development Group Bhd, Mah Sing Group Bhd, Tropicana Corp Bhd and Hap Seng Land Sdn Bhd have placed more emphasis on greening their projects.
This comes as open spaces and parks “help to enhance social bonding, which is something that is scarce in most urban areas”, said PPC International managing director Datuk Siders Sittampalam.
Recognising that open space is crucial to a well-balanced township, the Federal Department of Town and Country Planning Malaysia created a planning standard guideline aimed at supervising the implementation of open space policy within the country, revealed Siders.
In its bid to ensure optimal balance between environmental preservation and developmental needs, the government targets to attain the “Garden Nation” status by 2020.
On his criteria for liveability, Siders listed development with mixed uses, sufficient infrastructure, pedestrian accessibility, good public transport, environment protection, security, open spaces as well as recreational facilities such as wetland, urban forests and parks.
“Liveability can be measured by gauging the quality of well-being. Therefore, developments need to be holistic and sustainable for the general well-being of society,” he added.
Image sourced from The Star
Radin Ghazali, Content Writer at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email radin@propertyguru.com.my
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