IJM Corporation Bhd’s wholly owned subsidiary, New Pantai Expressway Sdn Bhd (NPE), has signed a supplementary concession agreement with the government to undertake a 15km-extension project for the highway.
IJM said the government has also approved its proposal to restructure the highway’s toll rates, a move expected to save about RM191 million in compensation payments.
“Starting from the Pantai Dalam toll plaza and stretching to Jalan Istana via Jalan Syed Putra, the extension will provide a smoother, faster route into the city centre.
“By linking directly to the Jalan Istana interchange, the extension will connect three major expressways – the NPE, Sungai Besi Expressway (Besraya) and the upcoming Laluan Istana-Kiara Expressway (LIKE),” it said in a statement today.
The company said the extension supports the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Master Plan 2040, which prioritises highway-to-highway connections to divert traffic from the city centre.
“Designed to meet future traffic demand, the project addresses key congestion points in the Klang Valley by providing an alternative route that is expected to divert up to 40% of vehicles from Jalan Bangsar towards the city centre.
“It potentially reduces travel time by up to 25 minutes from Pantai Dalam to central KL,” it said.
The agreement was signed today at the works ministry’s headquarters by its secretary-general, Azman Ibrahim, and IJM Group CEO and managing director Lee Chun Fai, representing NPE.
The ceremony was witnessed by works minister Alexander Nanta Linggi and key stakeholders.
Nanta said the NPE extension would advance efforts to improve mobility and ease congestion across the Klang Valley.
“Implemented under a public–private partnership model without financial support from the government, it demonstrates the strength of private sector participation in delivering key infrastructure,” he said.
The construction of the elevated NPE extension is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of this year and is expected to be completed within 48 months.
“IJM has secured approvals from two financial institutions to provide up to RM1.4 billion in project financing, reinforcing the group’s readiness to begin works as scheduled,” the company said.
