KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 — A RM2.6 billion integrated mixed-use development, featuring a shopping mall and four towers, is set to be built at the Johor Bahru terminus of the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, The Straits Times reported.
The Bukit Chagar Integrated Mixed-Use Development will also house a hotel, serviced apartments, a health-and-wellness hub, and education facilities.
According to the report, the project will be integrated with the RTS station at Bukit Chagar and the new Immigration, Customs and Quarantine Complex, and connected to Johor Bahru’s public transport network, including the KTM electric train service and city buses.
Citing developers, the report said a park-and-ride facility with 1,550 car spaces and 1,015 motorcycle spaces is included in the plans. Of these, 850 car spaces and all motorcycle spaces are expected to be operational by November 2026, aligning with the RTS Link’s anticipated launch by the end of 2026.
According to Transport Minister Anthony Loke, a driverless tram-bus network called the autonomous rapid transit (ART) system will support traffic dispersal in the Bukit Chagar area.
The elevated ART system, which runs on tracks across bridges and viaducts, is being favoured over a light rail transit (LRT) system due to lower costs and faster implementation.
“The implementation of the ART system is also more economical, and it can be built faster,” Loke said during a signing ceremony for the project, which is a collaboration between Malaysia’s Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) and the Sunway Group.
The Straits Times highlighted that Johor is considering using the ART system to connect the RTS to Iskandar Puteri, Tebrau, and Skudai.
The RTS itself is projected to handle 10,000 passengers per hour in one direction, with a daily ridership of about 40,000 passengers.
Construction of the mixed-use development is scheduled to begin in March 2025, with completion targeted by 2033.
Jeffrey Cheah, founder and chairman of Sunway Group, said the project could serve as a catalyst for economic growth across the Greater Johor Bahru area, while MRT Corp CEO Mohd Zarif Hashim noted its potential to transform urban planning by integrating transit infrastructure with retail and housing.
The RTS Link is expected to ease congestion on the Johor-Singapore Causeway, which sees an average of 430,000 to 450,000 daily users, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
