Puduraya Re-opens for Public

Published: 04/18/2011 by Priya Menon (Thestar)

THE much anticipated opening of Puduraya last Saturday was marred by minor glitches that left passengers puzzled and bus operators confused.

The ticketing counters which were on the ground floor before have been relocated to the more spacious first floor but many were astounded to find the escalators faulty.

There were no lifts to help senior citizens or the blind who found it difficult to climb the escalators.

Student Wong Lieuh Min, 18, from Kuantan said the change was good but the lack of facilities needed to be addressed soon.

“We now need to go upstairs to buy tickets using the stairs or climb the faulty escalators,” she said.

Wong said there were not many monitors displaying bus schedules and more should be placed at strategic locations.

Wan Zawawi Wan Mohamud, 30, who was heading home to Kuantan, said the terminal lacked services for the disabled.

“There are no ATM machines. I suggest they have bus departure announcements for people who cannot see or read,” he said.

He added that it would take time for the blind to get used to the place.

However, some passengers applauded the government’s move to upgrade the 35-year-old terminal.

Australian tourists David Turner and his wife Julie were happy with the facilities.

Turner, 74, who walks with the aid of a cane, said he did not mind walking up the escalator.

“The place is beautiful but they need time to get things straightened out. I was here 60 years ago when this place was run down. The transformation is nice,” he said.

The Turners were buying tickets for trips to Cameron Highlands and Malacca during their 10-day stay in the country.

Another blind passenger, M. Mariammah, 40, said the place was cleaner and the air cooler. Mariammah, who hails from Shah Alam, said the place deserved a chance to prove its worth over the next few months.

She, however, was puzzled that the food courts were not ready yet.

The food court on Level Four was deserted save a few traders who were busy moving their appliances into their stalls. One stall owner, who declined to be named, said their contract was started from May 1 but they had been given the option to begin trading earlier.

“How do we trade when the gas tanks are not in place? The lifts are not working so we cannot bring in our refrigerators and other equipment,” she said.

The traders also complained that the stall rental had been increased to RM2,900 a month, including RM1,800 for service charge. The traders have no inclination on the specifications of the exorbitant service fee.

“They should have started operations after everything is in place so problems like these do not occur,” a trader said.

Several bus drivers and operators were also confused about the new depot system that requires buses to be parked at the bus hub in Jalan Hang Tuah before clearance is given for them to enter the bus terminal.

One driver, who wished to known as Muhamad, said it was time-consuming for them to make two trips to the depot and the terminal.

“We have to report at the bus hub before clearance is given for us to drop off passengers at Puduraya then go back to the hub and wait for the time to pick up the other passengers at Puduraya again,” he said.

The drivers are afraid they would not be able to rest due to the traffic congestion that would limit their time at the hub.

A supervisor with a local bus company, Hafiz Hassan, said he was unaware of the new system and was told to continue parking the buses outside the terminal.

“When we went there this morning, we were chased off by the security guards,” he said.

UDA Holdings Berhad managing director Datuk Jaafar Abu Hassan said about 40 officers were placed at the terminal to help passengers. Complaint forms were handed out to those with grouses so their suggestions can be taken into account.

“We are looking into every suggestion and if it is valid we will apply it here. There are chargemen and contractors on standby to fix any problem. This is the first day of operations so will solve the problems as it comes,” he added.

There are 276 CCTV cameras and 48 security officers will be placed during the day and another 30 will be on duty at night.

When asked about the problems with the bus operators, he said most were complying with the new regulations.