The Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) has been axed - according to news reports, Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali announced the cancellation of the project today following Kidex's failure to comply with three conditions set by a Feb 14 deadline.
The state government had, with public feedback on the matter, set these conditions for the approval of the project. The first was to disclose reports on the project's independent traffic impact asssessment, social impact assessment and environmental impact assessment. The reports had to show benefit to users and residents after taking into account the negative impact of going ahead with the highway.
The other two conditions were for the project to reveal toll charges for whole duration of concession, including that of increments, as well as the revealing of the full concession agreement to keep in line with Pakatan Rakyat's policy of integrity, accountability and responsibility.
"Since not one of these conditions were met by Kidex by the end of the period given, the Selangor state government is announcing the cancellation of the project," Azmin said in a statement issued earlier today. He added that a similar approach will be adopted in the consideration of applications for approval of other expressways in the state.
The much-talked about 14.9 km project was supposed to connect the NKVE from the Damansara toll plaza to Bandar Kinrara. It was to include seven interchanges and pass through Petaling Jaya and Puchong, before linking up to the Bukit Jalil Highway.
There has of course been resistance to the project from residents, primarily those from Petaling Jaya - axed it may be for now, but the burning question is whether the project is completely canned for good, or merely delayed to resurface years down the road. Time will tell.
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