Regional Authority of Johor: launch of the Iskandar Rapid Transit project mid-2022 | Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, February 18 – Construction of the ambitious Iskandar Rapid Transit (IRT) project to connect air, land and sea transport hubs in Johor is set to begin by the middle of this year.

The announcement was made by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), which added that it aims to start the first phase of operations by 2024.

“Iskandar Rapid Transit will increase the mobility of Johorians by connecting to major transport hubs in Iskandar Malaysia, Senai Airport, Rapid Transit System (RTS), dual rail lane (EDT Gemas – JB), at Larkin Sentral and Port of Puteri,” it said in a statement today.

IRDA said it plans to raise awareness about the Iskandar rapid transit system and the upcoming Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to be built in and around Iskandar Malaysia in Johor.

According to IRDA, the population of Iskandar Malaysia currently stands at around 2.35 million, of which 844,000 people are expected to benefit from the use of BRT.

The regional authority said BRT is also expected to create up to 35,000 new job opportunities.

He added that residents of Iskandar in Malaysia can expect to save between 30-35% using public transport once the IRT is fully implemented.

He explained that the IRT would be able to connect 55 feeder routes and 44 direct routes with the main route covering 28 stations.

On November 21, The star reported then Johor lied besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad saying that the IRT will increase the mobility of people in Iskandar Malaysia, the country’s first economic growth corridor.

Hasni said it would form the backbone of public transport linking several key areas in the region.

The IRT was previously known as Iskandar Malaysia Bus Rapid Transit.