By Aida Aziz
Photo Credit Sam Ng
IPOH: Traffic congestion at the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Ipoh railway station, following the closure of the parking area in front of the station since September 1, has drawn complaints from members of the public.
The area in front of the station was reportedly closed to facilitate conservation works, with motorists advised to use alternative parking facilities provided nearby.
However, many have questioned the traffic management at the station, claiming that congestion worsens whenever trains arrive due to a lack of systematic measures and unclear signage that is difficult to spot.
One complainant, Sam Ng, said the relevant authorities should provide clearer signage as the existing signs appeared to be too small.
“I noticed that some e-hailing drivers sometimes miss the outer lane designated for picking up or dropping off passengers.
“The lack of proper signage causes people to stop and wait longer at the wrong locations, compounded by inadequate parking facilities and poor coordination,” he said.
Another Ipoh resident, Zuhairi, said the station’s owner, Railway Assets Corporation (RAC), should be more proactive and responsible in ensuring that traffic flow, vehicle access and the safety of users were given serious attention.
He claimed that traffic congestion around the station whenever trains arrive had seemingly become a recurring problem with no end in sight.
“What is more disappointing is that this is not a new issue and has been happening for a long time, yet the solutions taken by RAC as the station owner remain inadequate.
“The situation has now worsened with conservation works being carried out on the station building, further affecting the space available and the movement of vehicles.
“Do not wait until an accident occurs or the situation becomes more critical before taking action.
“It is time for RAC and the relevant authorities to go to the ground and find a comprehensive solution, rather than allowing the congestion to recur every time a train arrives,” he said.
