Menteri Besar Johor, Datuk Ir. Hasni Mohammad officiates the pilot test for the Iskandar Malaysia Bus Rapid Transit (IMBRT) system held today April 8, 2021 at the Iskandar Puteri, Johor.
His arrival was welcomed by the Chairman of the Johor State Public Works, Transportation, and Infrastructure Committee, Mohd Solihan Badri, and Chief Executive of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Datuk Ismail Ibrahim.
The system started its pilot project to test the capabilities of the buses as well as the use of green technology in line with the modernization of the public transport system in Johor.
The Pilot Testing is a three-month programme that involves the demonstrations of new green technology buses such as electric and biodiesel that may be potentially used for the IMBRT service. These buses will be tested to determine their roadworthiness as well as feasibility for use on the feeder, direct, and trunk routes.
The pilot test will run from 8 April 2021 – 8 July 2021 (except for weekends and public holidays) with a route location approximately 4km stretch of Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar, from Anjung to Horizon Hill in Johor.
IRDA and related agencies will also conduct assessments, collect feedback on the effectiveness and safety of the buses as well as obtain approval for their actual use in the future.
In his speech, Datuk Ir. Hasni Mohammad said the BRT project is important to increase the mobility of the people in the state.
“This service will ensure an efficient, convenient, and environmentally-friendly public transportation system, covering a wide range of areas.”
"I am confident that it will be a catalyst for development, not only for the Iskandar Malaysia area but for the entire state of Johor," he added.
IRDA Chief Executive, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim stressed that an efficient and integrated public transport infrastructure is important to attract foreign and domestic investments, thus increasing the attractiveness of the development corridor.
"This IMBRT project is expected to create up to 35,000 jobs and increase Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Johor," he added.
The project has identified feeder, direct, and main routes that reach 2,043 kilometers or about 90 percent of the populated areas in Iskandar Malaysia.
When fully implemented, the IMBRT will be able to connect 55 feeder routes and 44 direct routes with the main route covering 33 stations.
The participating bus suppliers include Mobilus Sdn Bhd, CRRC Zhejiang Electric vehicle, Scania, WSH Automative Sdn Bhd, HMN Electric Transport Sdn Bhd, Hyundai Corporation, Wise Star Group, BYD Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Go Automobile Manufacturing Sdn Bhd.
For more information on the project, other details can be found via the official social media channels of Iskandar Malaysia Bus Rapid Transit (IMBRT).