FINALLY! The Federal Capital’s unofficial Little India will soon become official when it undergoes a complete makeover by the end of the year.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are scheduled to launch Little India in December.
Futuristic: An artist’s impression of how Jalan Tun Sambanthan will look once the project has been completed. Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan, who made the announcement yesterday, said the project had received the final endorsement from Najib who wanted it ready by the end of the year.
“This is the BN government’s gift to the Indian community and once the project is ready, the Brickfields township will sport a new look reflecting the 1Malaysia concept,” he said.
“Work is expected to start anytime now as traders and hawkers who will be affected by the upgrading work have already been given notices to relocate to a temporary site at the Chan Ah Tong field,” Saravanan said, adding there would be a ground-breaking ceremony to kick off the project this month.
Saravanan said about 30 traders — mainly food, fruit and flower sellers — would be affected and the Chan Ah Tong field was only about 100m away, which would not disrupt their livelihoods.
"Once the project is ready, Brickfields will sport a new look reflecting the 1Malaysia concept"- DATUK M. SARAVANAN The traders have been given 30 days to move out and developer Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) will be preparing the site for them.
“Let us work together on this. Once everything is ready, this place is going to look good and everyone will benefit. But we can’t start if the traders are operating at the site,” he said.
Saravanan, who is also MIC vice-president, said the project was estimated to cost RM35mil and contractors would be working round-the-clock to meet the year-end deadline. He added that it was his KPI to ensure its success.
The new look will feature an entrance archway located at the tail-end of Jalan Brickfields near the Naga restaurant and the Brickfields police station and a fountain at the junction of Jalan Travers and Brickfields.
There will also be an information pavilion and food bazaars in Jalan Chan Ah Tong, fruit kiosks in Jalan Thamby Abdullah and flower kiosks behind the KFC.
The whole of Jalan Tun Sambanthan will also sport Indian-style street lighting akin to the Kuthu Velluku (Indian Lights) and Kolam designs of many colours.
The first fruits of the mega project could be seen with the widening of the inner roads in Brickfields, as well as the beautification of Jalan Berhala.
On the point that certain roads will be converted into one-way streets, Saravanan said based on feedback and suggestions from traffic experts, turning the roads into one-way streets would help ease congestion.
“However, we are sensitive to the people’s needs and views and if it does not work, there is always room to re-look at it again.
“Nothing is set in stone as it is only a traffic dispersal system that can always be reverted,” he said, adding that the aim was to bring some order into a chaotic township and turn it into a tourist destination of choice in Kuala Lumpur.
