Barang Naik: Tambang LRT dan Monorail coming soon...!!

Prasarana hints at LRT, Monorail fare hikes

Abdul Hamid and Shahril Mokthar (R) hold a media briefing on the integrated ticketing system project at Bukit Jalil LRT Station in Kuala Lumpur this morning. — Picture by Jack Ooi

KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad hinted today at price hikes for its LRT and monorail systems following heavy investment in a RM7 billion LRT extension programme as well as the RM135 million integrated ticketing system (ITS) that it announced today.


Group managing director Shahril Mokhtar said that while it was up to the government to decide on any ticket price increase, the finance ministry-owned transport company would need to recoup its investments.

(From left) Nor Hasan, Shahril Mokthar and Abdul Hamid demonstrate the new system. — Picture by Jack Ooi

“We have invested hundreds of millions not just on the ITS but also upgrading our current stations and we need to find ways to recoup the money,” he replied at a press conference when asked about potential price hikes.

The LRT extensions, which were approved in June last year, will extend the Ampang LRT line by 18 kilometres, adding 12 stations while the Kelana Jaya line will see 13 stations lining 17km of new track.
Prasarana will also have to invest in the integrated system for the extensions that are due to be completed in 2013, as well as integration with Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad’s Komuter system, RapidKL buses, and the RM50 billion Mass Rapid Transit system to be completed in 2017.

Shahril said, however, that Prasarana was also looking at other revenue sources outside the fare box such as advertising space and rental for retail areas.

Shahril said Prasarana was looking at other revenue sources beyond the fare box. — Picture by Jack Ooi

“Under the rail plus property plan, when we acquire land for new stations, especially for the MRT, we will also develop the surrounding area for additional revenue.

“To keep financially stable, we need to find other sources of income to survive,” he said.
Shahril said that the ITS system, which will allow commuters to purchase just one ticket for any journey even if they need to transfer between lines, would help to increase ridership from 440,000 a day to over half a million by next year, increasing revenue by 10 to 15 per cent.

Prasarana’s debt burden had eased slightly from over RM10 billion to RM9.6 billion at the end of last year.
Because of weaker retained earnings, however, the Group’s gearing ratio worsened from 2.99 times to 3.32 times.

It is also expected to issue an additional RM2 billion in sukuk bonds to fund the LRT extension and the MRT project is likely to be substantially debt-funded.


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