PETALING JAYA (Dec 26): Ekovest Bhd has completed the elevated U-turn at its EkoCheras mixed-use development along Jalan Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

In a statement, Ekovest said the elevated U-turn will smoothen the flow of traffic – namely from Jalan Cheras to the Kuala Lumpur city centre, as well as on the Middle Ring Road 2 towards Ampang and Setiawangsa.

“The elevated U-turn is a winning combination for traffic management, convenience, and safety. The traffic along Jalan Cheras has been an inconvenient issue for the residents in the area, who have deemed the issue as a perennial problem,” said Ekovest managing director Tan Sri Lim Keng Cheng.

“With this new elevated U-turn and the upgrading of Jalan Cheras, which includes road widening and flood mitigation, these efforts are expected to benefit the 3.6 million monthly road users that are using Jalan Cheras,” he added.

The opening ceremony of the elevated U-turn was officiated by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa.

Located on a 12-acre freehold land in Cheras, EkoCheras has a GDV of RM2.11 billion and comprises 1,500 units of condominiums and serviced apartments, hotels, office building, and mall offering one million sq ft of retail space.

Lim said he is confident of the mall’s prospects despite the prevailing negative sentiment arising from an oversupply of malls in the Klang Valley.

“Convenience was central to the conception of Ekovest’s malls, ranging from being able to buy everything in a single place to being a place for people to hang out.

“When we conduct our feasibility study, we also take into account the time that is needed for our customers to reach the mall, find parking etc. The effectiveness of this strategy is evident in the commitment of our key tenants such as Golden Screen Cinemas, Village Grocer, and Starbucks,” he added.

He noted that EkoCheras also has its own covered link-bridge that directly connects the Taman Mutiara MRT station with the mall.

“With more than 4,000 parking bays in EkoCheras, we are expecting an increase in ridership. Attracting the crowd to the mall is key for a mall to thrive,” he added.