KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 4): The Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3), also known as the Circle Line, is expected to carry 180,300 passengers per day when it is completed, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The number of daily passengers is projected to increase to 1.01 million by 2060, he said in a written parliamentary reply on Thursday (Aug 4).

Wee said in order to ensure that the projections are met, the locations proposed for the MRT stations include densely populated, high passenger catchment areas such as Mont Kiara, Segambut, Setapak, Danau Kota, Setiawangsa, Pandan, Sri Permaisuri, Jalan Klang Lama and Kerinchi.

In addition, there are also plans for 10 interchange stations to connect the MRT3 line to other existing rail lines, such as the Light Rail Transit, Monorail, and other MRT lines, said the Ayer Hitam Member of Parliament (MP).

Meanwhile, the line will also have sufficient "park & ride" facilities and first- and last-mile connectivity via a bus network, he said.

"[This is] so that the public transport network system in the Klang Valley is more comprehensive, continuous and efficient," added Wee.

He was replying to the question from Tanjung Malim MP Chang Lih Kang about the average daily ridership of the MRT3 as well as steps taken to ensure the projections are met.

The 51km MRT3 covers the outer city perimeter of Kuala Lumpur and parts of Ampang Jaya, Selangor, and will comprise 31 stations.

Earlier this week, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the MRT3 would cost as much as RM50.2 billion.

In a written parliamentary reply on Monday (Aug 1), Tengku Zafrul broke down the costs as follow: RM34.3 billion for construction cost, RM8.4 billion for land acquisition cost, RM5.6 billion for project management cost, and the remaining RM1.9 billion for other costs.

"However, the overall cost of the project will be finalised after the open tender process is completed," he said in a reply to Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil.

The government on March 4 agreed to the implementation of the MRT3 project, which will complete the existing public transport infrastructure in the Klang Valley by providing integrated, affordable and efficient services for the comfort and convenience of the people.

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